New arrivals
Looking back at my first year in high school, there are several things I wish I had done differently from the start, simple but important changes that would’ve made my experience less stressful and more enjoyable. So, here are some of the things I would have done, knowing what I know now, to help you feel more prepared, focused, and supported as you begin your own journey.
Feeling lost at first is normal
If I had known that the feeling of being alone, lost, or not smart enough at the start was completely normal, I would have worried less. Many students probably experienced the same thing, even if they hadn’t shown it. I wouldn’t have felt so alone, and over time, things might have started to make more sense. The key would have been to stay patient with myself and to give myself time to adjust.
“Just because others don’t show it, doesn’t mean they’re not struggling too.”
You’re Probably Not the Only One
Something else I wish I had done more often was ask questions. If I hadn’t stayed quiet when I didn’t understand something, I would have understood the subjects a lot better but I didn’t because I didn’t want to seem like the only one that was confused. Asking questions would have helped me stay engaged and shown that I was trying.
Your notes, your understanding
I also relied a lot on my friends for notes. While that might have been helpful, I learned that notes are personal. If I had written them myself in a way that made sense to me, it would have been much easier to study and understand. I still struggle with this, but I now see how important it would have been to build my own tools for learning.
High school Isn’t Middle School
And lastly, procrastination. This was something I talked about in one of my projects, and it was something I really struggled with, and still do. If I hadn’t waited until the last minute to study, I would have understood the material better. I studied as if I was like in middle school which was a mistake because there was a lot more to cover, and sometimes it wasn’t easy to grasp, so studying the night before was something I shouldn’t have done.