The thought of high school can seem really daunting. High school has so many new things- APs, preparing for college, and tons of new classes and new opportunities. That's how I felt when I started high school, but time flew by, and now, I've recently graduated high school!

There are some things I wish I had known before starting high school to be prepared for my first year, and I'd like to share this advice with incoming freshmen (and other underclassmen as well) to help you be more successful in high school. So, without further ado, here is some of the advice I have for incoming high school freshmen!

1. Join Clubs

I cannot stress how important it is to join clubs in high school. They have so many benefits- leadership positions, making new friends, and adding to your extracurricular activities! I personally think that it is a good idea to join them early on so that you can find which clubs you enjoy being a part of most!

Try joining some clubs, see which ones you like the most, and stick with them! Also, try out for some leadership positions! While it may seem harder to get one as a freshman, it's definitely doable! When trying out, make sure to write about experiences you have both in and out of school, such as sports, volunteering, or even past leadership experiences!

Starting a club is also a fun idea- I started one my freshman year! Just make sure that you know people willing to join your club and that you have time to manage your club along with all of your other schoolwork! Check out a list of different clubs that you can make (which was written by me!) here! Starting a club is a great way to practice leadership skills, have more extracurricular activities, and boost your resume!

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2. Do Competitions

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I really wish that I did more competitions during high school. This is a great way to boost your resume, and getting experience in the contests early on as a freshman can help you be more prepared during later years! There are several great in-school organizations that host compeittions, such as DECA, HOSA, and BPA! You can also look for competitions outside of your high shcool, such as writing competitions and hackathons!

3. Stay On Top Of Your Academics...

While navigating your extracurriculars, it is still very important to stay on top of your academics and your grades! Make sure to check how you're doing in your classes every once in a while! I like to set goals for my grades at the beginning of the year and try to achieve (and even surpass) those goals!

Make sure to note down when each of your tests is and study for them! And, if you ever find yourself struggling in a class, don't be afraid to ask for help! Going to tutorials before school has really helped me!

4. ...But Also Have A Balance!

While grades and extracurricular activities are very important, having a balance is very important as well! Try to meet new people, hang out with your friends, and do things sthat you enjoy, like your hobbies! I've gotten very caught up with school and have felt very stressed, but just taking time to focus on my hobbies, like writing, has really helped me not get overwhelmed with everything!

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While grades and extracurricular activities are very important, having a balance is very important as well! Try to meet new people, hang out with your friends, and do things sthat you enjoy, like your hobbies! I've gotten very caught up with school and have felt very stressed, but just taking time to focus on my hobbies, like writing, has really helped me not get overwhelmed with everything!

5. Make Friends (And Be Wary Of Red Flags)

I know that I've been pretty much talking about academic and extracurricular-related things, but social life is very important as well! Make sure to make some friends! Try joining clubs to make friends, talk with people in your classes,a nd maybe even sit with someone new at lunch! To me, having friends is a very important part of your high school experience, but it's also important to make that you have the right friends!

While you shouldn't stress out over every little thing, make sure to look out for toxic behavior or patterns of not-so-very-friendly behaviour in your friends. Some things that I believe are the most common red flags are when your "friend" only contacts you to ask for help and ignores you otherwise, talks behind your back a lot, and constantly tries to put you down. While making friends in high school, it's important that you're surrounding yourself with good friends and not toxic ones!

6. Do Extracurricular Activities Both Inside And Outside Of School

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I think I've kind of been talking about this already, but it is super important to get involved in extracurriculars! Join clubs (as mentioned earlier), take up a sport, join theatre or dance, volunteer, or even join an out-of-school organization! The possibilities are endless! I personally love volunteering- it's great way for me to give back to the community and can be very fun!

7. Have Fun!

Make sure to have some fun during high school. Don't get into trouble (Side note: this is another thing that I think is super important because getting into trouble can potentially harm college applications and impact the rest of your life), but make sure to make some fun memories while in high school. You only get to do high school once, so make sure to have a blast during your time in high school and make great memories that you can look back to in the future and smile back at!

Conclusion

And that's it from me! Remember, each high school experience is different, and make sure to make good choices! There will be many ups and downs, but you will learn a lot from the experiences you have and the time you spend in high school! Good luck with high school and remember to make fun memories along the way!