1. The outfit you wear on the first day of school is the first impression your peers will get of you so make it memorable. I'm not saying that you have to go wear an evening gown decked out in sparkles and sequins but dress nicely. Dress in what makes you feel confident and happy with yourself and most of all, never feel like you have to conform to a certain style. This summer, crop tops and high waisted shorts have been the uniform of girls everywhere but if you don't like it, don't wear it. Fashion is a form of self expression and never let anyone convince you that what you are wearing isn't good enough. I have a whole blog post on what to wear on the first day of school if you need some inspiration.
2. Don't be afraid to talk to people because everyone is just as scared and as uncertain as you are. No matter how popular or how confident a person looks, they all want the same thing as you, to fit in and make friends. Don't be afraid to introduce yourself to that cute boy or the girl who's listening to Imagine Dragons. Everyone wants to make friends but a lot of people won't notice you unless you let yourself be heard. This is something I regret because I just stayed in my little bubble and I didn't start making new friends until second semester.
3. Homework, tests, and assignments are still important in high school, no matter what anyone says. Everyone says grade 9 doesn't matter and that you can afford to fool around and still become successful, I disagree. I think that the sooner you build up important habits (studying for a test, handing in all your assignments on time, doing your homework etc.), the better, because the people who don't work in grade 9 are going to have an even harder time passing grade 10.
4. While the academic portion of high school is important, I think that the social part is just as important. Yes school is important, I just highlighted that in my last point but that doesn't mean joining clubs and sports aren't just as important. If you want to join a club, then do it! Don't be afraid of looking dumb or uncool because if it interests you then its good enough. Join sports that you've always wanted to play and have fun! Most of the time, people are too worried about themselves to notice you not being able to shoot a basket. Clubs and sports are the easiest way to meet new people with the same interests as you and expand your friend group.
5. Don't rush into getting a boyfriend or finding love. People usually date during the first few weeks of school and later regret it. Why? because they didn't really know that person. I'm not saying to never date in high school but be careful. Get to know someone before you start dating and make sure that you trust the person and aren't feeling pressured to say yes to a date you don't want. It's your first year of high school, make girl friends that will be there for every Pretty Little Liar marathon, not boyfriends who you forget about the next month.
6. Go to the dances. I'm not talking about only going to major dances like prom and semi, I'm also talking about the random halloween dances that your school holds. Those dances are memories that will last a life time. Grab a group of girlfriends who will dance and get ready with you. Even if the dance is boring, the time you spent with your friends will leave you guys closer than ever. When you get there, try not to worry about your dance technique and how you look, just have fun! Nobody will judge you, they're all too worried about critiquing themselves so go out there and have a blast.
These are just some basic tips that I can offer! I hope that you feel more prepared going into high school after reading this.
-Alicia
ps. I'm sorry this post is so wordy
pps. remember, nobody likes a slow walker in the halls
