Advice for starting highschool

Whether you're just starting year 7 or you've just finished year 11, we can all remember the 'dreaded' first day of high school. If i'm going to be perfectly honest, I found it hard. Making new friends, new responsibilities and being the youngest is tough.

#1 Be open minded, smile and have the right mindset.

This is especially important if you're the only one from your primary  school. Chances are, you've already had transition days and met some new friends. If not, take this as a fresh start to meet new people. We don't get many of them in life. Having the mindset that you are going to enjoy the year and make new friends is going to get you further than thinking you're going to hate it. Who wants to be around negative attitudes anyway? Also, this takes me to smiling. Year 7 was the year I got my braces. I would not open my mouth for anybody, which gave teachers and other students the wrong impression. People were genuinely scared of approaching me and teachers pulled me behind after lesson to ask me why I was so depressed. Nobody cares if you have braces, later in the year it will be the norm anyway. Smile and embrace it, a couple years down the line and your teeth will be perfect.

#2 Do not worry if you don't settle into a friendship group straight away.

Me and one of my best friends were talking about this the other day. She described it as the 'trial and error stage'. You may come up to high school with friends who soon disappear. That's how it worked for me. My best friend at the time was in a different form to me, and made a new best friend who shared lessons with her. I did the same and befriended two lovely girls who I am still in contact with today. Sadly, one became home schooled and the other had to move away for family reasons. This made me feel upset but also allowed me the opportunity to make more friends. My point is, don't put all your eggs in one basket. Branch out and make friends with people from a whole variety of primary schools. I'm in year 9 now, and have some of the greatest friends I could ever ask for. It takes time to figure out who your real friends are. It is usually tough times that reveal the greatest friends.

#3 Okay my final point and one of the most important. Get enough sleep!

You may think that because you're older now, you don't need as much sleep. Bearing in mind I have to get up at 7 am on a school day, I go to bed at 9:30 pm and I'm almost 14. You will not be able to concentrate in lesson the next day if you stayed up late. Here's a list of the things I find work the best to help me drift off:

1. Turn my phone onto do not disturb at 8 pm. This means I will not hear any notifications throughout the night, tempting me to check them.
2. Complete homework as I get it so I don't have it on my mind before I go to sleep.
3. Listen to relaxing music through headphones. I find it hard to relax at night (as I'm not doing anything my mind starts to wander), and this really helps me settle.
4. Pack my bag and prepare clothes for the next day when I get home. Again, this is one less thing to worry about.

Make the most of your first year at high school and remember: it's whatever you make it.

What year are you in? What advice do you have to offer to people starting high school?