A nervous wreck would be an understatement to how I was feeling the night before my first day of freshman year. I tried on ten different outfits and bombarded my friends with text messages about the schedule for the following day. Here’s my first piece of advice: breathe.

I had this fear that I would get completely lost, causing me to be late and my teachers would then hate me. I also assumed I would have to eat in a bathroom stall like in the movies. My brain was definitely in overdrive. But I brought a map and I met someone in my first period who I sat with at lunch, and within a couple of weeks I knew the school’s layout like the back of my hand and I had met the people that are now my closest friends.

Sports and clubs help immensely when it comes to making friends. “Going into high school, participating in sports was really great because I was already close with a group of people before my first day,” junior Molly Gormley said.

Knowing people who are interested in the same sort of things that you are can help you find your way. Connecting with other AHS students is probably the best part of high school and you will already have a head start.

Even if you don’t participate in clubs and things of that sort, I promise that if you put yourself out there to make friends, it will happen. All of the other new students are in the same boat as you are. Don’t be scared to talk to other freshmen, they want to make new friends just as much as you do.

High school is a lot different than middle school. I went to Poe and the transition was anything but smooth. The difference between middle school teachers and high school teachers are that they won’t chase after you to help you. It’s now your responsibility to stay after school if you need help or get the work you missed.

Make sure to pay attention to your teachers when they explain how their class will be run. Teachers want you to succeed; they aren’t trying to trick you. Be vocal about any questions you have or if there is an issue with where you are seated.

Stay as organized as you possibly can and get all the supplies the teachers request. There is nothing worse then being unorganized and losing assignments you spent time on. Also, pace yourself. Don’t wait until the very last minute to complete assignments. If you spread work out over a period of time, big assignments don’t seem like as much of a chore.

I don’t want to scare you in any way, but freshman year will be harder than any of your past years but just remember to be on top of all your assignments, get help when needed and stay motivated. If you do all that, you will pass with flying colors. Then you and your new friends can celebrate your achievements by going to football games, homecoming and all the other fun things that high school has to offer.