Starting high school can be a challenging time. You want to be as prepared as possible for this new chapter in your life. You’ll be experiencing new classes, meeting new friends, and trying out new activities. While you can’t prepare for every scenario, you can take some steps to stay on top of your work and extracurriculars. The following are a few tips to steer you in the right direction.
You’re busy, so you'll want to keep track of deadlines, appointments, rehearsals, tryouts, etc. A planner or calendar, either paper or online, can help you stay organized.
Now’s the time to improve your grammar, vocabulary, and style. Take some time to learn punctuation rules or practice journaling to get ahead for the coming year. These skills will serve you in high school, college, and beyond!
Sometimes the best person to help you is you. Self-advocacy is an important skill in the classroom and the workplace. Find out the people and tools that are available to you in your school and use them regularly. It’s easier to get ahead than catch up when you’re behind.
Think you’re “not good at math”? It’s not true! Think of math as problem-solving and apply a growth mindset—the belief that you can succeed—as you learn. Try different methods and types of problems as you learn. You may just need to look at things a different way.
Nothing enriches your high school experience better than finding the subject, sport, or activity that you adore. There are many ways to challenge yourself in and out of school. Try new things in 9th grade and see what suits you best. Then, you can put extra effort into what you enjoy most and excel in future years!
Let them know what you expect from the new year and when you get overwhelmed. Keeping those discussion channels open will help keep you and your family on the same page.
