What To Expect When Going Into High School

by Mary Humphrey

Guest teen writer

There are a lot of different things that upcoming freshmen think about high-school, and most of them are wrong.

You know how everyone says the upperclassman pick on you? They don't, the worst thing they do is walk by you and say "stupid freshmen," and half the time they are not a senior or a junior. This year every time someone said something to me or my friends it was a sophomore. They might also give you wrong directions, if you ask where room 301 is they might send you the opposite direction. So in that case, just ask a friend.

Another thing, don't take a table at lunch from anyone in a higher grade than you. Highschoolers are VERY territorial. The best advice is, you find a table the FIRST day and stay there all year, occasionally you have a different lunch, once again don't sit anywhere you haven't asked to sit. If you do sit at their table they are likely to get mad and make you get up.

Teachers aren't that bad. They will help you if you ask. They will not help you during class, so if you want help go in the morning. The best ones for help are probably the English and Biology teachers. The Algebra teachers will show you once or twice but not anymore.

Classes are not harder, they are about the same as 8th grade classes. Like I said earlier the teachers will help you, you just have to ask. Now, it is easier to fail if you don't turn in your work. Grades are weighted 50% test 50% daily grades. The teachers also don't let you have extra credit. Some have it but the majority doesn't. Also, if you are in fine arts, like band or choir you will have mandatory tutorials for the classes you are failing.

In reality there isn't that much homework. You are more than likely to have time in your other classes to finish it. I may have had homework 3 times my freshmen year, and when I did I finished it in the morning at breakfast.

One of the best things about high-school is you don't have to take exams if you follow the exemption policy.

Other fun thing are clubs. Key club, French club, Spanish club. There are too many to name, but it is a great idea to join them, you meet new people and besides it looks great on college applications. This is also a great way to meet people who have the same interests as you.

One big thing about high-school is finally being old enough to drive! When you get into high-school it seems like everyone is driving. Then you take Drivers ED and you get to drive too!

The food is about the same, some of the food is better and some is worse. You can even have cinnamon rolls every morning for breakfast if you want! It does take a little longer to get your food though, because of all the people. Especially on chicken nugget day! There is also no guarantee that you will have lunch with your friends. This year I only had lunch with 2 of my friends, but it happens.

Those are the things I worried about when going into high-school and I found out they were not true. I'm glad that high-school isn't this way or I'd want to be home schooled. So in reality high-school isn't that bad, but it is what you make it to be.

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