Everyone’s first day of… well, anything, can be eventful.

You’ll hear horror stories of wrong buildings and public faceplants, tales of meeting your true love in a packed hallway at 7:55 in the morning. My grandpa boosted my confidence by sharing the story of a high schooler who dropped dead on school steps... thanks, grandpa!

These are great and all, but no one seems to tell you what to do (or not do) and share their wisdom. I may be a random 17-year-old, but I’m here to share my grave mistakes and wisdom.

Image Credit: Markus Leo from Unsplash

The Three Things You Can't Forget

1. Triple-check your bags.
2. Visit your campus.
3. Triple-check your schedule.

Yes, these are bundled together for a specific reason. Imagine my horror when I, 30 minutes early to my next class and starving, realized my wallet was vacant from my person and still in my purse. I had transferred my phone, keys, and ID onto me, but my snack money and debit card were alone and afraid, basking in the hot southern sun of my passenger seat.

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Visit Your Campus

I had been before, but only in the testing center and the administrator's office. This lack of preparation is how I found myself searching the building for a bathroom after my failed snack plan, and found myself surrounded by tarantula terrariums, preserved skeletons, and poison frogs on the biology floor.

While this was a joy previously unseen, to others, this may be a nightmare. My only option was to yell down to a rather fearful-looking group of teenage boys to ask where the bathrooms were. Be sure to explore you’re campus first so you know what to avoid and when.

Triple Check Your Schedule

I was sure my Government class started at 2:20, so I spent the next 5 minutes wandering about and gazing at the fancy rocks and frogs. It wasn't until I wandered back down that I noticed the previously cramped hallway was vacant and my classroom was full. Luckily, the teacher was just arriving as well, but it scared me straight, and I'll be triple-checking everything from now on.

Image Credit: KirstenMarie from Unsplash

Check the Class Durations

I signed up for two 8-week classes (as opposed to the usual 16-week course) because my mother said, and I quote, “the teachers get to the point."

I thought this meant no award icebreakers or busy work. I was wrong. This meant cramming 16 weeks into 8 weeks, double the course load, and half as much time. While both my teachers are delights, I already know it’s gonna be a long trek, and if I fall behind, there's no catching up.

But… no pressure!

Keep Your Schedule Blank for the First Month

I originally planned on being an overachiever. I’d immediately join the honor roll, a club, and start a school paper.

But after my first day of classes, I thanked my lucky stars that I kept my horses safe in the stable. For my two 8-week classes, I spent 6 hours writing pretty notes and doing the assigned readings and work. And that was just from the first day (2 hours after class on the first day, writing my notes, and 4 hours today writing, reading, and doing online lectures).

Keep your schedule class only until you’re at least a month in and have a good handle on how long things take, how much energy, and how you learn. It probably took me so long to complete things because it took me forever to collect all the needed materials and know where everything is online.

You need a blank slate so you can fill it up as needed, when you have your bearings. For example, I realized I need about 4 hours on T/TH to do my work for my M/W classes. I had originally planned to fill that time with clubs, but now I know I can't afford that. Waiting saved my brain from frying!

Scribble Your Notes, Then Redo Them at Home

I discovered this in high school and thought I'd pass on this (possibly well-known and obvious tip and I'm just slow) lifesaving discovery.

In class, I scribble my notes and key points on a legal pad; no one can read them but me; the more it looks like a secret language, the better! At home, I have a nice notebook and I rewrite everything, with highlights and organized paragraphs. It takes a long time cough 2 hours cough but it's so worth it, and I think it’s how I'm gonna survive these 8-week classes.

Don't Drown Yourself in Academia Before School Even Starts

I made the mistake of surrounding myself with everything school-related - and I was burnt out before my first day of class. See my article How I'm Going to be a Rory Gilmore Student - and Here's How You Can Too for a full rundown of that fiasco.

At the time, a week before school, I was focusing on writing articles and figuring out how to start clubs; but I wasn’t prepared. My room wasn’t ready, I didn't have my student ID. Be sure to evaluate what you're working on “in preparation” and make sure it will actually prepare you.

Image Credit: Erika Fletcher from Unsplash

Good Luck Chuck!

While this collection was short and sweet, I guarantee I'll make new grave mistakes and have more sacred wisdom to bestow upon you, especially when I get around to starting that school magazine. Until then, here are some other amazing articles for students of any age:

• We Really Have to Stop Attaching Our Worth To Academic Validation by Chloe Soerjanto
• How I Use Different Citation Styles: A Comprehensive Handbook by Elizabeth Gregg
• Are Your Extracurriculars Tier 1 Or Tier 4? Here's Why It Matters by Jaden Hong

I would also like to know what my readers and peers would be interested in. Perhaps a series on school tips, literature resources for students, or a firsthand account of starting a school magazine? Comment what you'd like to read and I'll add it to my list!