High School

[Jade]

I'm a Nerdfighter who is about to go into high school, and I'd like to hear some stories about it. I have no older siblings and by this time i have learned not to trust the administration, who will tell you how wonderful everything is in high school, and kids my own age dramatize stories about the drugs and drinking. So can someone please tell me what it's really like?

[Katherine]

Way I see it, I've spent 3 years trying to find out who I /am/ and 2.75 slowly realizing who I need to /become/. (That's right, I've had the vlogbrothers offering thoughts for mediation and brightening my days since mid-freshman year. I feel like such a lucky goose.) Two already stated points need to be stressed:
- High school is what you want it to be. Don't feel like a bad if you don't like any of the clubs or extracurriculars. That stuff isn't manditory for a reason.
- Naps. A two hour nap when you get home: best thing ever. Never pass up the chance to sleep.
My other advice: Don't worry if you hate it, you will have happier days later in life anyway. Take classes you WANT to take. Going into AP Chem, Psych, English and college maths all at once is not necessary unless you desire a serious challenge to your sanity. You don't have to take loads of AP and honor courses to be desirable to everyday colleges. (When I graduate this May, I will have 2 honors courses (freshman year) and 1 AP (senior year Psych) under my belt. Am I worried about getting into college? Hells no. There are better things to hyperventilate over.) Find some really good friends. They'll keep you sane. All-nighters are necessary evils at times. Accept the 30 minutes of rest time you get at 4am as all you'll get. Have a life outside school and friends (eg, Nerdfighters). Most of all, DFTBA. There will always be someone who need a little more awesome in his or her life.

[Rachel]

I am a Junior at a public high school, and so far it's pretty fun. I don't have any stories about high school really, but I can give you some tips!
-Find a group. I don't mean that you should be part of a clique (become friends with everyone, especially older kinds, it will come in handy!) but find a club of something you enjoy doing. I am in French club and am on the dance team, and they are both ways that help me to fit in, and if I ever need help or someone to talk to there are people I relate to.
-Be nice to your teachers. It may seem like they are all out to get you, but really if you are nice to them then they're nice to you. I don't know how it will be for you, but high school work is hard and you'll have to work to keep good grades. Stay focused and don't let the stress get you down! Try your best and don't slack off in the beginning because it's a pain to try to get your grades up at the end of term.
-Stay away from drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol. You can have fun in high school without getting addicted to drugs or going to crazy parties, and don't fall into peer pressure.
-Go to school dances and stuff like that. Sometimes they're stupid, but the are also ways to make great memories with your friends. Also try going to sports events and having school spirit, it may seem stupid but it's actually really fun!

I hope this helps, and if you ever need someone to talk to then feel free to talk to me. :)

[Gene Rock]

if you like to hang with older people all you need to say is how much you hate freshmen. we all do. you should to.

[Ultimate Schnitzel]

If you lose your ID, don't buy another one until a teacher tells you to. It saves money in the long run.

[katie]

it's pretty much the same stuff as middle school, except there are more kids there so the chances of having classes with your friends is a less. also sports become a bigger deal in high school so if your into that stuff thats something to look forward to. don't worry once your there you wont even notice the difference between high school and middle school. oo and don't ever fall down the stairs while wearing a skirt it happened to me once it was fun but akward.

[Tenley Nadine]

I just graduated from high school in June and personally I didn't love high school. Don't get me wrong, there were some great moments, but for the most part I didn't enjoy it. I don't think high school has to be "the best 4 years of your life", it just as to be endured. Then, you can go do something else.

My suggestion. Join a club/team your interested in right away. Its an easy way to make friends with the same interests as you. Wheather it be drama, choir, latin club, chess club, football, soccer, tennis or something else... you'll make friends. And high school is all about having friends. As long as your with a group you won't get bullied or insulted (which is probably why girl's always tend to go to the bathroom together).

I hope you have a decent high school experience, but even if it completely and utterly sucks you'll always have us nerdfighters.
DFTBA

[BrewnetOdette33]

I think every high school will be different so no one can tell you definitively but just relax. I was lucky, I think, that in my county we have Specialty centers were you can go to different high schools to study certain things. I went to a different high school than most of my peers to study Mass Communications. There I joined the theater program so I had a place to be and people to hang out with. So I got a new start.

My advice is if your school has a Freshman Orientation, DO IT! You will be familiar with the school and it won't be as scary. At my school, they are run by upperclassmen, so I'm a Freshmen Mentor this year. Also, find your niche. If you find a place to be, you will feel more secure.

[Michelle]

Honestly, don't stress too much. High school seems a lot more scary than it is. Sometimes it's fun, sometimes it feels like hell. One tip: DON'T PROCRASTINATE. I do, and it makes things a whole lot crappier.

Like others have said, it all depends on what high school you're going to and where. I advise as others have also said, to get involved in some way. You don't have to, but I think it's a great way to meet new people and try new things.

As for the drugs and drinking, I think a noticeable enough amount do, but there are also lots of people who don't. Don't feel pressured to do anything you're not comfortable doing. My advice is to just stay away from them for now, but then again, I can't tell you what to do. I don't really think anyone will be strongly pressuring you to, unless you're simply pressured by the idea that sometimes it feels like everyone is doing it, which they're not. In my experience, like-minded people tend to kind of group together so the peer pressure isn't as much of a problem, but sometimes you might have friends that do that kind of stuff. Just be yourself, do what you want to do, be smart, and you should be fine.

Friends make all the hellish part a whole lot better. So yeah, keep those around. :P

Also, remember to keep a balance. Schoolwork is definitely important, but there is nothing wrong about getting involved in clubs or sports, and remember that your social life is important as well.

Freshman year is basically all about adjustment. Everyone else is in the same boat. You should be fine.

Good luck!

[The Only Heroine]

High school hasn't been the "best years of my life," to be honest. Luckily for all of us, studies show that after graduating, our generation has something like 60 more years to do amazingly cool stuff instead of sit in dusty, stuffy classrooms learning about whatever some old dudes decided was important for us to know.
Basically, high school isn't as huge of a deal as television seems to think it is, and you'll be fine. Seniors aren't going to stuff you in a locker (No one does that. Ever). It's pretty okay.
Special note: when it comes to drugs and drinking, I'm going to have to tell you the best choice you can possibly make is to avoid any and all illegal activities you can, especially hard drugs (like cocaine and heroin). My school has a big heroin problem and a couple kids have died way too young from overdoses that could have easily been prevented by abstaining from drug use. Marijuana and alcohol and cigarettes are most definitely more popular and more attainable, and I'd advise against them, too, seeing as all three can give you terrible cancer if you start using them at age 15. I'm sure someone on here is going to say drugs aren't that bad or whatever, but seriously, they're not worth the hassle or the cancer or the potential criminal record.
And if you decide to sleep with someone, use a goddamned condom. Teenage pregnancies are expensive.
(Sorry I'm so old and funsucking.)

[Samuel Se-jin Kim]

lol who made those studies? XD

[Katie]

High school is whatever you make it to be. I'm a junior this year, and maybe it's because my school is full of awesome, nerdy people, but I love it. I'm not popular or anything, but high school has been the best experience of my life so far. Just don't be afraid.

Also, (sorry for reviving an old thread, but this was the closest I could come to the topic I needed advice in without cluttering the Ning with another thread) I have a question.

Lemme just jump right in-- I have a crush forming on a guy I know, I can feel it. It's in its early stages, but I kinda want to nip it in the bud because I know he has a girlfriend he's happy with.

Does anyone have any suggestions that could help? Thanks so much in advance, guys.

[Samuel Se-jin Kim]

high schools fun....but everyone's too dramatic
its kinda annoying cause you cant avoid the drama very easily