The Freshman's High School Survival Guide

Here's to all you wimpy little Freshman. I can empathize with you, coming into a new school, leaving your nice, cozy environment. Parly because I am one, too. I would have KILLED for some advice about high school before I started not knowing left from right. So here's a few tips you guys should follow. It's basically everything I DIDN'T do. And trust me, it's been a tough lesson to learn.

NOTE: This is coming from my own high school experience. My high school is relatively laid-back, not stuck-up, no bad reputation really. Most high schools are similar to this, but some parts may be more exaggerated.

Ex-Classmates
- All your friends from middle school, remember them? Still contact them every now and then. All of my best friends went to a different school, and I didn't call them or anything, and so whenever high school sucks, I don't have anyone who can empathize with me. It's still good to talk to people who are in your shoes and who you've known for a few years.
- At the same time, don't cling onto your past. You're in a new school, and if you keep on dwelling on all of the people you miss, then you'll also be missing out on some pretty cool newbies.
- To add on that, don't cling onto people who went to your middle school and now go to the same school. See, when you enter high school, you undergo a transformation. Everyone changes. My two best friends no longer speak to me because they turned out to be snotty bitches. One of them was the shyest girl in class, and now she has more friends than me.

The High School Stereotype: Pay Close Attention
DO NOT LISTEN TO THE MEDIA'S PORTRAYAL OF HIGH SCHOOL, FOR THE MEDIA IS FULL OF CRAP. Most TV shows portray everyone being materialistic and all caught up in image.
1. There is only a small group of people who are actually consistent with that stereotype. A very small group... it's just that particular group of people are rather loud about it, so it's more pronounced.
2. After putting away that group, everyone else is pretty much... average. Of course, because you're in high school, you'll have a few labels and all that fun stuff... but the majority, about 60-70%, is just regular, awkward, dorky teenagers.
3. In that average group, I find that guys are more attracted to personality than appearance. Trust me. And vice versa.
4. The "popular" crowd likes to keep to themselves. They'd rather not associate with people outside their circle. If you don't piss them off, they don't piss you off.

Starting Off
- Find people you feel like you can relate to. The first impression of someone is usually the best impression you can have.
- Don't shy away from people at first. Or else making friends will be a lot harder. If you start earlier, then it'll be easier to get along with more people later on.
- Don't portray yourself as being vulnerable. Because there's always that group of people who bring other people down if they have the chance. You have to, at least, SOUND confident in yourself.
- Don't try too hard to fit in.
- People respect you the most if you simply act like yourself. No bullshitting or anthing. People respect you if you couldn't give a damn if other people think you are a steaming pile of crap.
- Try out for a sport or join a club. Even if you don't make the sport, you won't be in any humiliation and you will have at least met some people.
- Everyone is way into trends. The latest fashions, hair styles, attitudes, sayings, all that. It's up to you whether you'd rather follow or not.

"Populars"
- Yes, there are always cliques in high school. Always.
- Like I said, this crowd just likes to keep to themselves. Just don't piss them off.
- There's some nice people in this group. Quite a few, actually. There's only some people who will only hang out with other people because of image.
- These are the people who can ruin your reputation if you allow them to.
- Guys are popular because girls make them so. Really, they couldn't give a shit about popularity. They're just happy because they can hang with pretty girls who are jumping all over them. What guy wouldn't like that? Girls are the ones to watch out for, because girls are vicious in high school. You really can't trust them.

Freshmen...
- Have the easiest year. The least amount of homework, and more time to hang out with friends and experiment with clubs and all that. Learn to manage your time NOW, or else it'll be way harder in the tough years, Sophmore and Junior year.
- Are teased within the first few months or so. After a while, the older kids get sick of it because you've gotten used to your new school and you're not so uncomfortable anymore.
- Should be loud at Pep Rallies. At my school, whenever each class is supposed to be the louded when called out, everyone boos the Freshman. So, one time a group of people starting cheering out, "Freshman! Freshman!" And soon the entire class was shouting, and since then we've heard no more of it. You just have to earn your..... christening, you know?
- Shoudn't be so nervous when coming to a new school. Don't all crowd together and act scared, because it makes you more vulnerable. The more vulnerability you display, the more likely it is that you'll get picked on.

So I hoped that helped. Again, this may not apply to everyone, because it depends on the high school you're hoping to attend. You can make your high school years either enjoyable or miserable. So don't do what I did, okay folks? I missed all my middle school friends, never contacted them, and shyed up when I first came to high school and now I hate it here. So just walk in with a sense of self-confidence and you'll be alright.