As a high school senior myself, I was thinking of ways to help the incoming freshmen that has no idea what high school is really like. High School now is way different from high school in the past. Since now we have social media to express ourselves, you can’t ask your parents for advice. And I know when I was a freshman I would read articles that told me what an adult’s high school advice was that went to high school years ago. Even though the times have changed, freshmen should know what high school is like in the 21st century. When I was a freshman, I just moved to a new city and did not know anyone. So throughout the years of high school I have made my mistakes with making friends. You do not have to take my advice, but I think it will help you if you are looking for some help.
Going To Every Party
Now you probably think it’s an easy thing to know, but it’s harder now since you have Snapchat and Instagram with people posting about how “lit” their party is going to be. And if you decide to not go, you’ll see people posting how fun it was. But believe me when I say that these people are just trying to do it to impress other people. Some parties, if you do not know the person who is hosting personally, have drugs and alcohol. It is also sometimes really dangerous if you don’t know anyone there. In my school, there were parties every week and since I have a strict mother, it was easy for me to say no. But I recommend that you go to a party where you know the host or you have friends that are going. Realize the risk of alcohol, drugs, and police if you do decide to go to a party. Parties distract people from not doing well in school. When you are caught up with parties it will lead to bad grades. So I recommend you to pick and choose what parties you want to go to and not every party.
Hangout With Only One Friend Group
When you are in high school you would see a lot of friend groups and you might be in one. Or you will have that one close friend that you hang out with most of the time. But if you hang out with the same group of people, it can lead to a lot of drama or you not trying to make any other friends. I had many friend groups, and it was either people that had the same classes as me or even the same sport I played. And the problem with some of those friend groups is that most of them didn’t have other friends which lead to friends depending on other friends or even jealousy between friends. I was sometimes the one friend in the friend group that hung out with different people and if a friend group didn’t work out I had other friends. Even though you want to have that one main friend group there will always be clashes between each other and you should have other friends.
Having A Partner The Center of Your Universe
I don’t recommend being in a relationship but if you decide to have one you shouldn’t let him or her be the center of your universe. What I mean by that is don’t let them control or change you. I have seen so many relationships that change people to the worst. They would always hang out with their partner and not their friends. The couple will usually lose their friends and sometimes get bad grades. Since high school relationships don’t last long, they become depressed zombies that cry all the time and walk around moody. You shouldn’t let your partner be the reason you exist but instead someone that is an extension of your life that you don’t need. I honestly think it’s all a waste of time because you should be focused on school and not worrying about having a relationship.
Being In Friends Drama
This is the most important tip that you shouldn’t follow. There are too many stories I could tell with this topic. If there’s a fight between friends then don’t get involved. I feel that people know they shouldn’t be involved in other people’s business but can’t control themselves. Having friends fight is uncomfortable and awkward. If you decide to get involved, it would make a bigger issue than it was actually. And there’s a high chance of losing one of them or even both. It’s very common for high schooler to focus on other people and themselves. I never fully understood why people cared about what happens to other people’s “tea” if it doesn’t involve them. I would have a problem with one of my friends and then at the end it would seem I have a problem with three other people at once. It bothered me how people don’t fully understand that you shouldn’t be involved in an issue that doesn’t include you in it.
Following Other People
I know that an incoming freshman would probably want to try to fit in but following other people is not healthy. I do understand that it could be hard making friends and not trying to look like the odd one out. But following other people can lead to an identity crisis and hatred toward yourself. I have seen my friends go through not loving themselves for the way they are and follow other people to make them happy. I was introvert in school and I thought that was the reason it was hard for me to make friends. But then I embraced that part of me which made me make genuine friends. If you stay true to yourself it would make you happier throughout high school.
High school should be enjoyable. I am glad I experienced all these struggles of high school to help the upcoming freshmen that hopefully don’t have to deal with these types of issues. Remember high school is not your whole life so don’t let these years impact you. I hope these five things you shouldn’t do helped you in your high school journey.
SurlyHuman 