5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting High School
The transition from middle school to high school can seem daunting. We always hear that high school is “what matters” and you can’t help but feel like these next four years may be the most important but also the most stressful yet.
To help reduce some of that freshman anxiety, I’m going to share the 5 things I’d wish someone had told me before starting high school.
1. Is high school harder than middle school? Yes, but …
Yes, high school is harder than middle school, but don’t let that scare you! A few tweaks to your study habits may be all you need to succeed!
While I was in middle school, l was naive about what to expect before entering high school. I always thought that even if I had only studied the morning of a test I would get good grades, or if I put in half the effort I would still succeed. I entered high school with this same belief and was quickly proven wrong.
The first few tests of high school had far different results and the effort I had been accustomed to was not enough. I realized that in entering high school my mindset had to change. No longer could I have this carefree attitude about assignments and studies, but instead I had to put in the work to get the grades I wanted.
Enter high school with the belief that it is going to be harder and understand that what was enough in middle school isn’t enough in high school. Plan to put more time in now, and you’ll set yourself up for success later!
2. You’re encouraged to reach out to teachers or tutors for help
Something important I have learned is that teachers are your greatest resource. It may seem scary going to a teacher thinking that by asking questions you’re admitting to not paying attention in class. But that’s not the case.
Teachers are more than willing to go over the concepts and topics you just don’t understand. The one-on-one teaching that happens when you ask for help is going to save you a lot of time than if you were trying to figure it out yourself.
Not everyone learns the same way and sometimes we can be shy in raising our hand in front of the class if we don’t get something. By talking to your teacher, you’re able to learn and ask questions privately.
And in those cases where your teacher can’t help you, finding a great tutor is incredibly valuable and you can even find tutors for free!
3. Take classes that personally interest you!
In high school, we get caught up with the idea of taking the classes that will “look good for college” and forget about our own interests. Take the AP (college-level course) classes that align with your college goals and what you want to major in … but remember to prioritize yourself too.
School is tough as it is. Take a class or two that fills your heart and isn’t as stressful or serious. I have been in both situations: I took a class I wasn’t interested in and a class that wasn’t a college-level course but I was passionate about. I can confidently say how much more I prefer taking a class I knew I would enjoy rather than counting down the days until the class I dislike ends.
4. Failure is part of the process and that’s okay!
Here’s the truth: not all the tests will go your way. No matter how much you practice great studying habits there will always be days where you completely blank on the material or run into a question you have no idea how to answer.
When I was in ninth grade, I remember studying hours for this one math test. I felt ready when I entered the classroom but when the tests were handed out, I completely blanked and ended up doing terribly.
For the next few days that terrible test grade lingered in the back of my head. I thought about everything, from having to drop this class to this one test ruining my grade.
Another math test came up, and I studied for hours again. This time I felt confident and ended up doing very well. Consequently, the last test grade completely disappeared from my mind.
Do not let one bad grade ruin your mood or create negative thoughts in your head.
A philosophy I like to live by is if it won’t affect you in a year or even a month from now, then it shouldn’t affect you right now. Sure, that test grade lingered on my mind for a few days, but now I laugh looking back on it and am appreciative of the lesson it taught me.
5. Don't compare yourself to others
It’s easy to look at someone’s accomplishments and feel envious. You can’t help but wish that you had done that well on a test, or had written the great essay the teacher raves about.
A mindset that many have and I admit to as well is viewing school as a competition. The belief that each person is on their own team trying to outlast and surpass everyone else is toxic.
You’ll constantly feel disappointed and unsatisfied with your results or accomplishments if you’re always comparing yourself to someone else.
While school may feel like this sport of getting through classes and getting good grades, remember that everyone is on the same team. Rather than pitting yourself against your peers, support one another.
There are plenty of good grades to go around and just because someone had an A+ doesn’t mean you can’t either.
School is hard as it is and making it a competition will make it even more difficult and will lead to student burnout.
Remember that school is a marathon, not a sprint so take care of your mental health by choosing kindness over competition.
Final Tips for Starting High School
If you’re in middle school about to start high school OR are currently in high school, we’ve got your back! UPchieve is a nonprofit helping students get free online tutoring. It’s completely free as long as you’re 13 and up. Sign up and get free tutoring today!
About the author
My name is Avani Chaudhry and I’m currently a junior in high school.
I’ve always been one of those people who saw school as a simple task to complete in my day before doing what I enjoy - playing basketball, and hanging out with friends.
However, high school was a larger step up than what I was prepared for and my view on school immediately changed. I have learned many lessons from past mistakes that I have made so far in my high school career.
When I entered high school I was caught off guard by its contrast to previous school years and wished I had known several important facts. I hope you found this blog post valuable, and I encourage you to check out my other posts on the UPchieve blog.