Becoming a high schooler is one of the most terrifying responsibilities ever.

You come from a middle school where everyone was way below average and still in their cringy stages of life. The first thing that you absolutely have to do is get rid of the Aeropostale shirts and weird pants. It is a war in highschool, and you can’t be seen wearing that.

In high school there are cliques all throughout the school, like the guys who spend all their time playing sports and obsessing about it, and you have the girls who walk around with their Hydroflasks and if they don’t start their day with Dutchbros then don’t even bother talking to them. There is a group of kids who come to school just to ditch every class and run from security and others who do their homework that is due next week during lunch because they are just that busy. The last group of kids are those who smoke before school, during lunch, and after school. I’d recommend staying away from the stoners, although they all manage to graduate high school and get to be high the whole four years although they miss out on their whole high school experience because the whole time they are struggling to stay above water.

As a high schooler, I personally know that procrastination kills. It is hard to balance everything out with school, friends, family, and even sports but it is easier to get work done beforehand rather than stressing yourself out unnecessarily.

Participating in class is important but don’t let your teachers fool you. Personally if you are listening and retaining information from the class then it isn’t as big of a deal to be participating 24/7.. Embarrassing yourself in high school is now your worst nightmare, and truthfully saying the wrong thing in front of a whole class is the fastest way to embarrass yourself. Forget being afraid of dying, or losing a pet; this is now your new worst fear and well.. good luck if this fear ever come true. You will lose participation points, but it is better than speaking up in class and risking your whole high school career.

At Wheat Ridge, the Commons is the sacred place for kids to go when they decide on missing classes, as a freshman you’re accepted to ditch and miss classes so you will need to learn the commons very well. You will need to learn to hustle to the commons, never rush this hard to class, only to the commons to ditch. You have to get the perfect table, the one that is away from the sun, does not wobble, has minimal trash on it, and has somewhat clean chairs. And whatever you do, do not get caught by the big bad Mr. Izeta, the school’s dean.

The last tip I have for you is to be late to class every once in awhile. You are a freshman, which gives you the one-time opportunity to give every single teacher the excuse that you are late because you are a freshman and got lost in the big, new, scary building.. Oh and, for the love of God, above all, do not act like a freshman! I know it’s hard not to chase your friends around the halls, be really loud, ask the obvious, and be weird, but this is the number-one high school survival tip, so start learning it now.