Comments (29)

• 
  

  have fun. good luck. i wasnt really a big fan of high school..i was just bored and didnt want to be there. but its been over 5 years since ive graduated. time flies! its good that you mentioned you want to be a success! ;] and you will as long as you concentrate on your work, but also have fun too. my best advice, high school can be frustrating at times-but always be yourself! never lose who you are to fit in, cause thats just dumb. :] Report Spam Posted by cupcakexo at 6:03 PM on 09/01/09

• 
  

  Well I just started school last week as a senior in high school. Being a freshman isn't as bad as people make it out to be. The only thing i had trouble with was finding my classes but by the second or third day you already have a routine and its no problem. About the whole all girls school thing i cant really help you there because i go to a coed school but I'm sure you will know someone there and if you don't you look like the kinda person who makes friends quickly. So have fun, don't stress, and remember always be yourself. GOOD LUCK!! :) Report Spam Posted by pinkylew at 6:07 PM on 09/01/09

• 
  

  well, I'm a freshman too, so the best advice I can give you is to find the people you know first before worrying about meeting new people. it will save you lots of confusion and will make freshman year much more enjoyable. also, pay attention in class and don't be afraid to ask questions- you won't look bad, that's what teachers are there for right? do you have uniforms? if not, keep your outfits casual the first week; you don't want to appear overeager :] and the great thing about HS is that it's a fresh start... good luck! Report Spam Posted by crayola09 at 6:12 PM on 09/01/09

• 
  

  @crayola09 we do have to wear uniform & there is only one friend of mine that is coming to the same high school,but we arent the bestest friend.& do you think have extra piercings on my ear will be a overeager ? Report Spam Posted by kaitlynnx3 at 6:15 PM on 09/01/09

• 
  

  extra piercings is not overeager if thats what you usually wear! Report Spam Posted by cupcakexo at 6:18 PM on 09/01/09

• 
  

  nope :] just try not to pile on other jewelry, stick to one piece like a nice nacklace or ring Report Spam Posted by crayola09 at 6:19 PM on 09/01/09

• 
  

  High school isn't as big a deal as people make it seem.If you focus and keep up with your work you will be fine.It probably will be the most memorable times of your life.Considering you're going to be in a school with ONLY females, watch your back, high school girls are catty and sneaky. Avoid all drama its not worth it at all. Report Spam Posted by kaylax3 at 6:32 PM on 09/01/09

• 
  

  private skool? dont you have to wear skirts? Report Spam Posted by atalina_08 at 8:14 PM on 09/01/09

• 
  

  Well, I know from the outset that this is going to be long... I did not have a good high school experience, but it was quite an experience.If I could give myself one piece of advice, looking back, it would be DO NOT LEAVE IT IS NOT REAL. Seriously, high school was not like anything before or since.Staying off Kaboodle during the week is a good move. This place is seriously addictive. I was in High School before you could get the Internet at home (there, I just dated myself). We did, however, have these on-line communities that you could dial into and chat, email, trade files, etc. I was big into one called Delphi, but had to give it up because of computer problems and I had to save for a new computer. That was probably fortunate, as it kept me from spending too much time there.It's pretty easy to succeed in high school. Teachers are very explicit about what you need to do. Just listen, follow directions, and you'll usually do fine. There are, of course, exceptions. The hardest A I got was actually in PE-3. I had to figure out that the coach only gave A's to the jocks, so I went out for the track team. Even though I didn't do that well, he noticed my "commitment" to sports and gave me an A.It's not just the girls, all kids that age are a pain. One of the things that made high school hard for me is they built a brand new high school and moved the other high school in town, and all my friends went to one of them. I knew a lot of kids in my school from Jr High, but I wasn't close friends with any of them. Some of them were just verbally abusive. It's easy for someone like your parents or teachers to say, "Just ignore them," but seriously, they can be relentless. Having a strong social network to provide you positive reinforcement that you're really a cool cat is important. Like someone else said -- hook up with your friends -- meet up with folks you know like @alisha_marie -- meet new people, and make friends not based on popularity, but on hanging out with people that make you feel good. All my friends from high school I didn't become good friends with until after high school, when we went to college and discovered this email thing. Since I skipped a grade, I was suddenly with a different group of folks who generally respected me a lot more than the kids I had been with; I wish I would have made friends with them sooner, but I was too focused on getting out of there. There were also the seniors I knew from yearbook my first year there. We were friendly, if not friends; they were accepting of me, and I hung out with them a couple times. I think I would have had an easier time adjusting to high school if I made the effort to hang out with them more and had tighter social ties with them.High school was way too easy for me -- that's probably what I hated the most. I was ready to drop out until I figured out how to graduate a year early. Dropping out would have been a disaster (for my life as a whole). It's only a few years that soon will look like a distant memory. If you're bored, make do and plug on, it will be over soon.Pick an extracurricular activity: a sport, an instrument, a club, and make the most of it. I was a photographer for our yearbook. Best part of high school. I haven't met a band geek who didn't love it. I even respected the jocks because that was their thing and they enjoyed it. If you don't like the first thing you try, switch to something else mid-year.The flip side is don't sign up for everything. Academics should come first, and if you try to do multiple extraciricular activities, you won't be able to give any one of them your all. When I see a resume of someone who says, "I went out for this sport and was in these three clubs and volunteered for these two charities," I just think, "and you didn't do any one of them well."Don't be a teacher's pet. Nobody likes it. Not even the teacher. This rule does not apply if they're young (like just out of college) and cute. In that case, you won't be the only one, just don't be obvious about it. (Yes, I'm speaking from experience.)Try to respect your teachers. Even if they haven't earned it, always try to act respectful. This goes double for the administration.Remember that the staff (like in the front office) and custodians keep the school running. They're good people to get to know. This is perhaps the one thing I learned in high school that has been most useful in the real world.If you're learning something that's really interesting, talk to the teacher some more about it. Remember: most teachers -- once you get to the high school level -- do what they do in large part because they enjoy what they teach, and they want to pass on that excitement about their field to the next generation. I really got into physics, so I talked a lot with the teacher and started coming in now and then after school to do experiments with him for fun. One day he announces in class that the Department of Energy had a high school honors program where they send one junior or senior from each state to each of seven of the national labs (that's seven kids -- not one kid to all seven), and to talk to him if we were interested. Of course, as soon as class was over I was up there declaring my interest. He figured I would be, and since he knew me so well, he said I just needed to tell him which of the seven I wanted and it was mine. Turns out his friend was something like the head of science education for the state and prepared the list of nominees for the governor. I told him I wanted to go to Fermilab, and a couple months later, I was there. I ended up working at one of the Department of Energy national labs for nearly a decade after college, so I think it was a mutually beneficial program.Write and speak in complete sentences. The biggest complaint I hear from teachers today is that kids write papers like they're texting or IM'ing their friends. There's nothing wrong with shortening writing when typing casually with friends, but you should still be able to use the complete written English word.Take every opportunity you can to get scholarships. Since I ended up skipping a year, I didn't have a chance to apply for the National Merit Scholarship, and I really didn't take the time to look for others. College is expensive, and even if your parents are paying, they'll need all the help they can get (if they're so loaded that they don't, then hey, I could use a little help. :-)That's all I can think of off the top of my head, but it's probably enough to get you thinking.Have fun, and let us know what you think! Report Spam Posted by zow at 9:36 PM on 09/01/09

• 
  

  Eep... there's a length limit! Who knew?High school was way too easy for me -- that's probably what I hated the most. I was ready to drop out until I figured out how to graduate a year early. Dropping out would have been a disaster (for my life as a whole). It's only a few years that soon will look like a distant memory. If you're bored, make do and plug on, it will be over soon.Pick an extracurricular activity: a sport, an instrument, a club, and make the most of it. I was a photographer for our yearbook. Best part of high school. I haven't met a band geek who didn't love it. I even respected the jocks because that was their thing and they enjoyed it. If you don't like the first thing you try, switch to something else mid-year.The flip side is don't sign up for everything. Academics should come first, and if you try to do multiple extraciricular activities, you won't be able to give any one of them your all. When I see a resume of someone who says, "I went out for this sport and was in these three clubs and volunteered for these two charities," I just think, "and you didn't do any one of them well."Don't be a teacher's pet. Nobody likes it. Not even the teacher. This rule does not apply if they're young (like just out of college) and cute. In that case, you won't be the only one, just don't be obvious about it. (Yes, I'm speaking from experience.)Try to respect your teachers. Even if they haven't earned it, always try to act respectful. This goes double for the administration.Remember that the staff (like in the front office) and custodians keep the school running. They're good people to get to know. This is perhaps the one thing I learned in high school that has been most useful in the real world.If you're learning something that's really interesting, talk to the teacher some more about it. Remember: most teachers -- once you get to the high school level -- do what they do in large part because they enjoy what they teach, and they want to pass on that excitement about their field to the next generation. I really got into physics, so I talked a lot with the teacher and started coming in now and then after school to do experiments with him for fun. One day he announces in class that the Department of Energy had a high school honors program where they send one junior or senior from each state to each of seven of the national labs (that's seven kids -- not one kid to all seven), and to talk to him if we were interested. Of course, as soon as class was over I was up there declaring my interest. He figured I would be, and since he knew me so well, he said I just needed to tell him which of the seven I wanted and it was mine. Turns out his friend was something like the head of science education for the state and prepared the list of nominees for the governor. I told him I wanted to go to Fermilab, and a couple months later, I was there. I ended up working at one of the Department of Energy national labs for nearly a decade after college, so I think it was a mutually beneficial program.Write and speak in complete sentences. The biggest complaint I hear from teachers today is that kids write papers like they're texting or IM'ing their friends. There's nothing wrong with shortening writing when typing casually with friends, but you should still be able to use the complete written English word.Take every opportunity you can to get scholarships. Since I ended up skipping a year, I didn't have a chance to apply for the National Merit Scholarship, and I really didn't take the time to look for others. College is expensive, and even if your parents are paying, they'll need all the help they can get (if they're so loaded that they don't, then hey, I could use a little help. :-)That's all I can think of off the top of my head, but it's probably enough to get you thinking.Have fun, and let us know what you think! Report Spam Posted by zow at 9:37 PM on 09/01/09

• 
  

  Let's try one more:I told him I wanted to go to Fermilab, and a couple months later, I was there. I ended up working at one of the Department of Energy national labs for nearly a decade after college, so I think it was a mutually beneficial program.Write and speak in complete sentences. The biggest complaint I hear from teachers today is that kids write papers like they're texting or IM'ing their friends. There's nothing wrong with shortening writing when typing casually with friends, but you should still be able to use the complete written English word.Take every opportunity you can to get scholarships. Since I ended up skipping a year, I didn't have a chance to apply for the National Merit Scholarship, and I really didn't take the time to look for others. College is expensive, and even if your parents are paying, they'll need all the help they can get (if they're so loaded that they don't, then hey, I could use a little help. :-)That's all I can think of off the top of my head, but it's probably enough to get you thinking.Have fun, and let us know what you think! Report Spam Posted by zow at 9:38 PM on 09/01/09

• 
  

  Just relax, things will be ok. Report Spam Posted by miss_daphne at 10:47 PM on 09/01/09

• 
  

  yep. have fun, be yourself, and don't do anything stupid that might come back to bite you later! Report Spam Posted by nurselynds at 6:25 AM on 09/02/09

• 
  

  Good luck and have fun! When you're done with high school you'll look back and wonder why you got so stressed about school! Relax, enjoy your friends and enjoying being in high school. Report Spam Posted by soofaye at 7:56 AM on 09/02/09

• 
  

  Personally I really liked high school and I felt like it prepared me for college. My biggest advice is to take AP classes if your school offers them (they usually have most of them junior or senior year). AP really helps you prepare for college (if that is where your headed). With AP classes, I skipped a whole year of college and saved tons of money. I would also say focus more on your school work and doing community service. I am sure you will do wonderful in high school. Report Spam Posted by jessicachanel at 9:14 AM on 09/02/09

• 
  

  I mean Highschool is a challenge. You have distractions and work, but I think you'll be fine trust me as a Highschool Senior I know about it all. And time flies by so fast I mean it seems just like yesterday that I was a Freshman. I think freshman year is the funnest because it's not like you have to prepare for college or anything just relax and pay attention to all your teachers. You'll be great. :-)xoxoAshBia Report Spam Posted by ashbia at 10:06 AM on 09/02/09

• 
  

  @atalania_08 yeaah we have to wear skirts . Report Spam Posted by kaitlynnx3 at 11:17 AM on 09/02/09

• 
  

  well i hope you have fun and also good luck! Report Spam Posted by hancutie261 at 2:58 PM on 09/02/09

• 
  

  I am a freshmen too! I started school on Aug. 24th.You'll make a lot of friends! Just be friendly. Report Spam Posted by amysocoolx3 at 5:14 PM on 09/02/09

• 
  

  @jessicachanel brings up some great points. My high school had very few AP classes, and there was no public college/university in town at the time, so my family actually saved money by me graduating early and going off to school rather than pay one of the private colleges in town. And extracurriculars should be exactly that: something that comes after your studies. Still, I'm sure you'll breeze through your classes. Report Spam Posted by zow at 9:33 PM on 09/02/09

• 
  

  Bottom line...stay true to yourself! Report Spam Posted by xoticpnai808 at 3:40 AM on 09/03/09

• 
  

  @zow goshhh you are smart ! I can't even skip a grade ! what grade you skipped ?? Report Spam Posted by kaitlynnx3 at 2:15 PM on 09/03/09

• 
  

  I totally understand! And I sent you a msg with some advice. Did you get it? If not, send me a msg and I'll give the advice again! :) Report Spam Posted by ultranerd101 at 5:46 PM on 09/03/09

• 
  

  @ultranerd101 ohh sorry I didnt know you send me it . but I replied right now ! & thanks for the good advice everyone ! Report Spam Posted by kaitlynnx3 at 11:44 AM on 09/04/09

• 
  

  I skipped my junior year of high school. It really didn't have anything to do with intelligence. Actually it was more like dumb luck. We were required to take Geography, but I didn't know that going into 9th grade, so I took Communications (different from Speech, which was required too, Communications wasn't). Somehow Geography was only 1/2 credit, but Communications was a whole credit, and along with Speech, 9th grade English and 10th grade English, filled out my English requirement. The other piece of good luck was that I had 9th grade in Jr High, which allowed me to get 7 credits that year instead of the 6 you could get a year in high school (my class was the last 9th grade class in Jr High -- they changed to 6-8 middle school when we left, so we started high school with the 9th graders a year behind us). When I was planning out my 11th and 12th grade years, I found out that I could take Government in summer school then the only class I was missing for graduation after 11th grade was Geography, which was a freshman level class, and it was offered at the same time as yearbook, so I went to the teacher of the class (with some support from one of the other teachers) and asked if we could work something out, so I ended up going to Geography every other day, and Yearbook the opposite days. This meant more studying at home on my part, but I've always liked maps, traveling, finding out about new places and whatnot, so it was pretty fun. I took that plan to my consular and she agreed to move me up to the senior class the following year. So it really wasn't about intelligence, just a little planning and some dumb luck. Report Spam Posted by zow at 10:40 PM on 09/04/09

• 
  

  stay grounded, stay the path... Report Spam Posted by fleece1st at 4:16 AM on 09/06/09

• 
  

  I agree with everyone else. Find some good friends and stick with them. Make learning the thing you focus on....because that's really why you are there...and MANY people put learning and studying last. You have a terrific attitude and we can tell by the fact that you are going to cut back on Kaboodling that you have good willpower. Try to stay away from all those guys lined up across from the school and at the bus stop. This is probably going to sound really dumb. But high school is a really bad time to get involved in any relationships. You will have a lot more fun if you leave that for AFTER high school. Same thing with all the other stuff people warn you about. You need to be in control in high school and that means satying ATI (above the influence). It is a pain you have to wear a uniform, but that means you can pick out more clothes for outside of school and you never have to worry about the outfit for the next day. MOST OF ALL....remember what everyone else has said....Be yourself. If ANYBODY doesn't like you for who you are....then they aren't worth your time....just move on to a different friend. After all you will always end up being who you are anyway, so what's the sense in trying to be anything you are not for somebody else. Just a waste and lots of stress. You WILL be fine...promise. And you can always blog with us on the weekend if anything stressful comes up. Looking forward to hearing from you once in a while. Have a great school year. (((hugs))) Report Spam Posted by paws72 at 2:16 AM on 09/10/09

• 
  

  @Zow is the model Kaboodler: Great with lists. And it's a great list fo' sho.I'll add my two cents. I went to 3 high schools. 2 freshman year, and the 3rd for 10-12th grade. Senior year I was actually elected school president, which was really fun, but extremely surprising. I think I had a lot of success by not sticking to any clique. I knew who I was, but I didn't let that stop me from being friends with everyone. I was/am a total theater nerd/video game dork, but I wasn't about sticking to the cliques. What's the point? High school seems like it's life, but, as a 22 year old, it's an effing joke. It goes by so quickly. I started working sophmore year and I spent senior year working 2 jobs and running the Student Council. My brothers are now in high school, and I see some of the things that I changed are still in effect. But, I realized after switching high schools a few times that the clique-y groups are "mega-whack" (as I'd say) and not worth the effort to maintain. I shrugged of the drama, and had a blast.Basically (tl;dr): Make friends with everyone and anyone and have fun. Ditch the drama.To give you a bit more insight, the BEST part of high school for me was visiting after I graduated, having all the teachers recognize (and care about) me, and going out for a beer.Have fun! Report Spam Posted by kabroskie at 2:33 AM on 09/10/09

• 
  

  You are kind and wise @kabroskie. I should note that I'm an introvert (I need to do a Blogazine on that), so I value having a few close friends. Still, I was friendly with most of the other kids. My senior year I was the photo editor for yearbook and -- like class president -- that allowed me to get to know a massive number of the other kids without being in any of the cliques -- that definitely felt better than the isolation of the previous year.@paws72 brings up another great point: high school is a bad time to get involved in a serious romantic relationship. Voice of experience here. We tried to do the long distance relationship when I went off to college (she was two years behind me). I came home for the Columbus Day weekend -- when I talked to her the weekend before she couldn't wait to see me -- my Dad dropped me off at her Mom's place, she gave me a big hug, and said, "I'm going out with another guy, it's over." That's wasn't actually the end, but if I was smart it would have been. Report Spam Posted by zow at 7:36 PM on 09/10/09