Jan. 4, 2023
By Justin Mayewski
Staff Writer
Some say freshman year is just the beginning of high school, and it really doesn’t matter. However, I would argue that it is the most important year of high school. It is not easy to be a freshman, but that is no excuse for not making the most of the experience.
Academics
Everything starts with the classroom. This is where your reputation in the school develops. Having a good relationship and building rapport with all your teachers will make your time in high school so much better. Establish a good GPA because it is very difficult to drastically raise a GPA.
Another tip to keep in mind is to work well with others. Not only will that contribute to your academic success, but it will also make the class much more enjoyable. Classwork is crucial to your grade and education. However, try to get more personal with the classmates you work with. It might sound counterintuitive, but it is important to talk about things other than school. This will help build a good relationship, and in return allow for a better outcome in working with others as a whole.
Do your best to not procrastinate. Quarterlies are often due around the same time, so the teachers that assign the quarterly for that class early on in the marking period take advantage of that opportunity to get ahead.
In certain classes, you might be ahead of your work, have a substitute teacher or just be given free time. Use that free time wisely. You have to be there anyway, so you might as well get some work done for another class.
Extracurricular involvements
Freshman year is the ideal time to join that club or sports team you have been thinking about.
Expose yourself to a variety of clubs as a freshman so you can set yourself up for leadership positions as the years progress.
Being a part of a sports team is a good way to make friends. It is great for your physical health and can teach students valuable life lessons like discipline and a passion for working out.
Clubs are right up there with sports. Expose yourself to a variety of clubs as a freshman so you can set yourself up for leadership positions as the years progress. No matter what career you want to pursue, clubs will equip you with skills you can put to use in the future.
Communication
Concentrate on making friends and building healthy relationships. Always be there to lend a helping hand when someone needs it.
The most effective way to make friends is to be accepting of everyone. Every person might not be just like you, but that is okay. Be nice to everyone, and your quality of life in high school will improve.
When making friends, surround yourself with people who make you better and care about you. Sometimes it helps to have the same interests, but that is not always the case. As long as they treat you the way you want to be treated and you enjoy being around them, that is the key. I think most people can often tell who they should and shouldn’t hang out with; it’s just a matter of following your instincts.
It may not always be easy, but have the courage to speak up. Some students have trouble speaking in public, especially freshman year. There could be a variety of different reasons but commonly kids are shy, they don’t want to say something wrong or incorrect, they don’t want to get made fun of and they’re judgemental of themselves. The list goes on for the root cause of why kids don’t speak up. If you feel that it is truly an issue or something that is holding you back, talk to a trusted adult. It is very important to acknowledge these issues quickly and seek help. Your guidance counselor is the ideal person to see for this type of assistance. They can guide you in getting over this obstacle or any others that you feel should be addressed.
The sooner you learn to ask questions in class and express your opinion in a respectful way, the better off you will be in life. It is an important life skill to speak up for yourself and for what you believe in. It is not healthy to let other people make choices for you, so let your thoughts and opinions be your own and you will be much better off.
Passion and purpose
All of the tips in this article ultimately lead to the main goal, which is to find your passion and live with purpose. Make the most of your classroom experiences. Get involved in a variety of activities and expose yourself to new opportunities and friendships. Strengthen your communication skills and get out of your comfort zone, and in the end, you will learn more about yourself. Once you identify your passion and purpose, let it drive you forward as you strive to make the most of your high school experience.
