Starting High School with a Smile

Pretend like I'm your older sister, sitting down with you over a nice cup of coffee.  You're a freshman going into high school for the first time.  I'm a "wise" senior.  I honestly want to help you out and give you some advice.  Some much needed advice.  Advice that will help you, not harm you.  You're listening with open ears, right?  Good.

Take a sip of that caramel frappuccino and listen to my five tips for today.

1. Be the one to reach out and make friends.  I'm sure that right now you're thinking, "I hope people will reach out to me and be my friend."  Guess what?  A lot of kids are hoping that same thing, wishing desperately that someone will reach out to them and offer a gesture of friendship on the first day of school.  I entered high school without any friends.  On my first day, I walked up to some girls I recognized and started up a conversation.  I said, "I don't have anyone to sit with today at lunch.  Can I sit with you girls?"  They said yes.  We've been best friends ever since.  "I'm way too shy to do something like that!" you might think.  In complete honesty, I'm very shy too.  It may take coming way out of your comfort zone in order to make some friends.  Remember that everyone is as scared as you are.

2. Respect the upperclassmen.  This might sound a little offensive to you, but it's true.  Don't talk trash to us.  Don't run around shouting, "2014 is the best class at this school!"  That kind of thing will make you a target for hazers who are looking for a target, which is probably the opposite of what you want.  Accept that we're older and just be nice.  Would you treat a ten or eleven year old the same way as you would someone your own age, even though you're only a few years older than them?  You're fourteen.  We're eighteen.  There is a difference.  Smile and say hi when we walk by.  If you're nice to an upperclassman, most seniors will be nice to you.

3. Drama belongs in middle school, not high school.  Do not join a group of friends who are obsessed with causing drama and gossip.  It isn't worth it.  Don't you dare be a drama starter.  You will be miserable.  You will not be liked if you start drama.  People will talk bad about you.  Don't overreact if someone says something that ticks you off.  Hold it in.  Don't take revenge.  Don't bad mouth someone.  Smile when someone glares at you.  Just don't even go there.

4. Get involved.  Find yourself a hobby.  That's a great way to find like-minded friend.  I like guitar, piano, inner city ministry, writing, and Bible studies.  Your hobby might be a sport or an instrument.  Maybe it's yearbook.  Maybe it's drama.  Find something that you can do and learn and enjoy with other kids.  Through things like this, you can make friends with people who are like you.

5. Don't do stupid things.  This might sound obvious, but a lot of new freshman fall for these temptations every year.  I'll remind you ahead of time.  Do not do drugs.  Do not drink.  Do not have sex with the senior football player.  Do not drive when you don't even have your permit yet.  Do not steal anything.  If you get involved in anything illegal, you're not going to have a fun time in high school.  You'll only make yourself miserable.  Be smart.  Come on.