High School Tips, Tricks, and General Advice

[topcliff 1]

To answer your question, Middle School = Junior High = usually 7th and 8th grades as their own school. Leonardo

[cityhawk 12]

Hey topcliff, I start my senior year of HS tomorrow, so allow me to give you some tips: DO NOT FIT ANY OF THE STEREOTYPES! Be your own person because that's how you excel in the work, the fun, and the girls, not by being somebody you're not to try to get into something that could ruin the rest of your life anyway. Two: WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH MATH, TRY NOT TO MISS ANY OF IT. It can be hard to catch up when you weren't there for one day of it because the math you learn builds upon what you learn the day before. When you weren't there the day before, the math you learn in the current day will most likely not make sense. Three: STAY ON TASK! Try to get all your work done in the beginning. Don't be a procrastinator because it will stress you out in the end (believe me, I would know). Four: GIRLS ARE NOT POSSESSIONS!! THEY ARE A LIVING, BREATHING PERSON JUST LIKE YOU, SO TREAT THEM LIKE SO. Do not think that looks are everything because they're not! If you like a girl, get to know her better on the inside, not the out!

Alright, if I think of any more, I'll post them. For now, it's time for me to get some sleep for my first day of school tomorrow. I hope this advice helps you, topcliff.

[kawan 6]

Originally posted by: topcliff To answer your question, Middle School = Junior High = usually 7th and 8th grades as their own school. quote>

 

Oh I see! In England that is referred to years 7 and 8 which are in the same school as the higher years. They usually get picked on - everyone hates them because they are so arrogant, thinking they are "cool" because they're no longer in baby school.

[topcliff 1]

Thanks for the advice CityHawk. Don't worry, I treat everyone with respect. That is, though, if they don't throw me on top of lockers or something else like that. And besides, the girls are the ones who won't stop calling me, hanging up when I answer, and then telling my mom when she answers that she's looking for me, but won't call back when she should. Doesn't matter, I'm about 85% sure who it is. Only problem is, there's two Sarah's that I was great friends with at school. Oh, the possibilities! Leonardo

[Mikemat5150 0]

Hey topcliff. Well I'm a junior in High School right now so I can probaly help you out a bit. The best thing you can do is get set up with a grup of friends and try and get atleast one friend in every class cause It's really ackward otherwise for when you do stuff with partners. But I don't know if that will be as big of a deal with you since you go to a smaller High School, mine has about 4500 kids. And I'm really shy, like really shy, but I get by. Once I know people I'm crazy though I have two personalities. And with the Sarah stuff just read them when talking face to face with them. It's very easy to tell when people lie or have no clue what you are talking about.

[2nerdy4u 1]

Back from that killer campout! I didn't die!

oh right... this is topcliff's thread...

i agree with Mikemat about the friends thing. my private school's got an internet thing and classes are already up on the interwebs. if u have something like that check it out. i check for friends, "half-friends" (those people u just kinda say hi to), and new kids. if u have no friends in one of ur classes, try and meet a new kid. it might be a bit awkward going up to the new guys, but theyve got it even harder than u, so a helping hand is always good. another tip, dont ever suck up to teachers. everyone will hate you. and dont try too hard to fit in. just be urself and do ur own thing. join clubs and stuff and dont slack in homework. and have fun.

and i read somewhere on this site that u got summer reading left. i think it was in ur CJ. lol. i still have 2 books left to read. ive already read one called "Touching the Void." i still need to read one called "The City" and ive heard its a boring-as-hell textbook. ugh. the other one i have left is "Of Mice and Men." Short and ive heard its an awesome book. i have a week to read them and write a short 500-word essay. not as bad as what uve got...

have fun in high school, buddy!

[topcliff 1]

Of Mice and Men is an awesome Steinbeck novel! But, if you ever want to see the movie, look for the one with Gary Sinise. That's the best one. Well, this weekend is a peaceful retreat to Lake Tahoe, so I'll read up there. I look forward to school because I get to meet new people, say hi to old friends, and go back to the best vending machines in the world! As a general shout-out to the 93ers going into high school:

Good luck, and I'm sure all of Simtropolis backs us as we enter our age of maturity.

[ky72x 13]

Heh. I'm a 92er.

I start my second year of H.S on Monday, and I have one piece of advice: Always finish your work on time, or else you'll end up having a lot to do all at once. Never wait until the last minute to do something, either. Stay focused, don't procrastinate, and don't spend the whole afternoon goofing off instead of doing your homework. Pretty generic, but still very important!

Good luck, all you first-timers! Hope you do well.

- Kyle

[skyliner22 16]

Well Topcliff im bout begin the final year high school and well i dont know how to really compare my experience to other high schools in general but just expect way more work than middle school. Also well like again, my school has off campus lunch where your allowed to just go anywhere for lunch as long as ur back by the next class. Umm expect more crowdedness and the big difference between each grade. Its not too bad and yea try not to miss more than a day of school or the work will come back to you. Some schools there may be more fights, mine is pretty nerdy and theres not too many fights. Uhhhh well the best way is just to go through the joy of being a Freshman. Just dont think ur the king of the school or sumthin or the upper classmen will do something about that. Oh and i guess watch out for freshman fridays and make lots of friends!

Whee i get one more week!

HAVE FUN!

[Boggy1 45]

Being from Britain, I started when I saw this topic, because to me, High School starts at age 12 or 11. The education system over there confuses me quite a bit (then again, I guess ours confuses you )

In two weeks time, I'm moving from Secondary School into College - which to us Britons mean I have 2 more years left of education before I go on to University.

When I started High School (secondary school - at age 11) I was absolutely terrefied. Quite literally, all of my friends were going to a different school than me. They were all going to a local school; I was going to a school 20 miles away. I knew noone. Being extreamly shy back then, and having no self esteem and confidence, you can guess how stressed out I was.

The first few years were hell. I mean, it was absolutely horrible, and I did not enjoy school at all. I was being bullyed nearly every single day, and coming home in tears at least twice a week.

Do not do what I did. I reacted. I would loose my temper, shout, get angry, throw things, cry. You are just playing into the bullie's hands, and they will bully you more for it. Instead, try to ignore it. Don't react. Don't fight back. Because it will just come back onto you.

Now, for the past two years, I've been great. Hardly anything gets to me anymore. It's mainly because I've found a nice group of awesome friends who support me. If people bully me, I usually use my wit or sarcasm to brush the bullies off.

Being gay, you can imagine how much trouble I was getting. I found that if people say to me Eurch your GAY! saying Yes I know I am...and your..HAWT!! usually makes them run away very fast!

[Insane Child of Bodom 1]

Originally posted by: kawan

Originally posted by: topcliff To answer your question, Middle School = Junior High = usually 7th and 8th grades as their own school. quote>

 

They usually get picked on - everyone hates them because they are so arrogant, thinking they are "cool" because they're no longer in baby school.quote>

 

Actaully in America "Baby School" ends in 5th grade...

and Middle school in California is 6th to 8th grade...and yes I belive 8th graders should have fun and act like the big man on campus...

man I hated High School...only continuation school was fun...

lets just say this...kids enjoy middle school...all you teens out there...."93"ers...weird name for your selfs....good luck FRESHMAN....bwahahahahahaha.....

The only thing fun bout High School is ditching...and yes ENGLAND eductation system is super weird...an 11 year old in High School...shoot that sounds like baby school...

oh and 10th grade is the hardest...Junior year was a piece of cak...

[2nerdy4u 1]

Originally posted by: Insane Child of Bodom

The only thing fun bout High School is ditching...quote>

way to give mixed info... ditching is no good unless u want to end up in some bad college. i never ditch, because at my school, theyre not dumb and they figure it out. also, ull miss the day's lecture and have to decode the cryptic words of the textbook or something. and thats not fun. u get behind on classwork, any homework due that day becomes late (lowering the possible score u can get, which then affects ur average), and u end up struggling or not doing the night's homework cuz u missed the day in class. and wat are the pros of cutting class? really nothing. the school is about empty, and quiet. pulling pranks would end in a detention or suspension, and leaving campus would give u a detention and u wouldnt be allowed to drive to school if u had a car.

so topcliff, dont cut class. and insane child of bodom, i hope u were joking...

[beebs 129]

Originally posted by: Insane Child of Bodom

Originally posted by: kawan

Originally posted by: topcliff To answer your question, Middle School = Junior High = usually 7th and 8th grades as their own school. quote>

 

They usually get picked on - everyone hates them because they are so arrogant, thinking they are "cool" because they're no longer in baby school.quote>

 

Actaully in America "Baby School" ends in 5th grade...

and Middle school in California is 6th to 8th grade...and yes I belive 8th graders should have fun and act like the big man on campus...

man I hated High School...only continuation school was fun...

quote>

Hm.. and up in Canada, things seem to change again. For me, it was..

Elementary - K-6

Junior High/Middle School - 7-9

High School - 10-12

Now as for advice... Do your homework.

[SimRabbit 48]

as a senior i would say not to mess with juniors or seniors they are gonna jump your ass.

and try to make lots of friends cuz you will need them. and do your homework, and study hard because if you don't you will end up working at mcdonalds. meet the cool guys if they ignore you just go to the next one.

and finally get enrolled in sports and just have fun with your teammates.

[granto93 4]

well, im goin to grade 9 which is not considered high school in Newfoundland but most people say it is the hardest grade. you know how it is, akward times, popularity contests, cruel people, etc etc

i just try to stick with my own group of friends, dont hang with the wrong crowd and have a little fun. and reserve a little alone time for study and thinking. i cant stand being around people for too long but im weird so that probably dont apply to anybody else

[autoVino 26]

Here's a rule that applies if you're an clear cut optimist (which I am)
Taking hard classes doesn't seem hard until you start taking them... if that makes any sense whatsoever... same thing applies to tests, etc.  They don't seem (sound is a better word?) hard until I actually get to them.
oh yeah, the golden rule for me is "take it easy..."

[The_Dalai_Llama 15]

Some really good advice here.

My advice? Simply be yourself.

[Mikemat5150 0]

Well I just got my schedule for school and It *****ing sucks. I have spainish first period and I get C's and D's in Spainsish, but one of my really good friends is in my english class so it will be out of control. And the one thing I reall agree with on here is don't try to suckup to the teacher. The only time I ever did was last year (sophomore) when me and a friend did to our english teacher. But I'll explain myself she was 23, about 6 years older than us, and very good looking. So many sexual inuendos were said. Good Times.

3 DAYS TO SCHOOL.

[Mike the Mayor 51]

Originally posted by: The_Dalai_Llama Some really good advice here.

My advice? Simply be yourself.quote>

 

I'd agree. And just be polite and well-mannered. At least that way you'll be respected too. I know exactly how you feel. I felt the same.

Don't take this the wrong way - I know it may sound well but try to be friendly or even make friends with the teachers. I've found it has really helped during my time in High School and they help you out in awkward situations if there are any.

Anyways, good luck and have a good time.

[Aroughleague1209 0]

Originally posted by: N_O_Body Good advice, across the board.

Be sure to enjoy the social aspects of high-school.  They prepare you for the more sophisticated world of university social life. 

Don't be a greasy grind, but do get your work done.  If you are heading for a professional career, a 4.0 average in high-school along with social things like honor society events will help that. 

People going into high professions like medicine and law are expected to be academically flawless, socially acceptable, and publicly sprited.  This is hard, but doable. 

Most important of all, have fun doing it.  This is only 4 years of your life, but very important as it usually sets your pattern for life.

Good luck, and remember, every minute of angst you waste on trivialities is 60 seconds of joy you are missing.quote>

 

That deserves a big "QFT".

[topcliff 1]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I'll try and have a good year, seeing as I have one week to this day until school starts. I believe we should all start S.C.H..L. : Simtropolis Commitee Honoring Our Optimistic Lads. Have a good year for all of you already in school, and for those of us who haven't started, good luck!

[Aroughleague1209 0]

anyway, GL in High school, champ

[Fischbob 9]

I'm starting grade 11 in a couple weeks, so here are some pointers from me. I'm not sure how the school system stacks up elsewhere, so some of these may be New Brunswick-specific (so Brad especially, listen up).

First, I'll re-iterate what some have said in that it's very important to be a good student. That means attend classes, complete assignments on time, and strive to do well. Your marks in the first couple years of HS will dictate what levels of courses will be open to you when you start needing to worry about University transcripts. Take good notes and start studying for exams a few weeks in advance so you're well on top of things. Exam week itself can actually be quite fun since you'll have quite a bit of free time when you're not writing.

In the transition from middle school, the biggest thing I found was that your level of independence goes way up. You don't have teachers breathing down your back for assignments anymore, they just expect them at the due date and that's that. You're under no obligation to stick to a certain place during breaks/lunch anymore. You can head off-campus to pick up lunch, and even run to a corner store during break if you think you have time. Of course, this means you need to be more responsible, too.

I also found that between middle and high school, there's a big difference in the attitudes of other students. I found Middle School, at least my middle school, to be full of intimidation and bullying and the like. In High School though, people generally don't care about your appearance, interests,etc, and those who do are usually those grade 9s who should probably still be in middle school. So if you do get comments, don't take them to heart.

If there's any sort of orientation activities in your first few days, you're probably going to have the student council tell you to GET INVOLVED. Actually listen to them. Academics are the main reason we've got school, but it's the extracurricular activities that make the experience worth it. There will be a variety of different sports, clubs, and activities open to students, and they're all great ways to meet new people. I personally got involved in drama, student council, and Reach For the Top (one of the most awesome clubs out there, FYI) and I've made friends who I still spend time with, even though some of them have now graduated. This year, I'm planning on joining choir and ball hockey too. Not only do these involvements let you meet people and give you something productive to do, but they also look very good on scholarship applications. Also, do try and attend the events the student council will promote throughout the year—they put a whole lot of effort into them (and if they don't, well they're not a very good student council).

On the topic of friends, you WILL eventually meet new people and make new friends, whether in your classes or through the activities you do (which we've already established you should). I went into high school with a group of middle school friends, and finished my freshman year with them and a few other groups of friends as well. Of course, there were also friends I drifted away from, and hardly hang out with anymore. It's a two-way street that way.

I hope this helps you in some way. The most important thing to remember though is to enjoy yourself! Your high school years have the potential to be the some of the best your life has to offer. So work hard, get involved, avoid the more dangerous and unlawful youth activities, and try not to let people get you down. The reward will be great times you'll cherish long after you've graduated.

[2nerdy4u 1]

I read that wikipedia article and that program looks like fun.

and for the guys going into HS, the clock is ticking...

...take cover.

[Shingure 56]

Im sorry to ask this but also Im going into 9th grade. Where Iam they have AP and College Steady courses where you get credits. Im in the Law field Im trying to branch out into International Law. Also in my school they only offer Spanish as the second language but in order to for me to get where Im at I need to be fluent in at least 4 langauges and the such. Also I have my stuff planned out and my SATs are in 9th instead of 10th. So in the mean time I would like to know How I can go about all of this. Oh yes Im also based in a Public Charter School in Philadelphia. Thanks.

[ilikehotdogsalot 308]

It feels like I posted here yesterday...

Only half a year left to go.

Is it summer, yet?

EDIT: Honors classes aren't that hard to be honest. I didn't really have any problems.

[rugar12 0]

Hmm, I would have to recommended not getting deeply involved in any drama you may encounter. Have fun and date, if you wish, but don't let that derail you from your goals. Don't do what I did and skip class a lot, it'll just make getting good grades quite a bit more difficult. And take high school seriously. If I hadn't taken high school lightly, I would be going to college with an academic scholarship instead of being in debt thousands of dollars.

[vilbe 6]

the harder the classes you take in high school, the easier your college career will be. period.

[LarksTonguesInAspic 28]

Take it from an 'old' guy (class of '90)who wishes he had paid more attention: You're there to learn. Rugar12 is right.

I took a great deal of honors/advanced curriculum classes, but partied and hung out too much. You only get 1 shot, and how you do will affect the rest of your life. Do it right, and you will be rewarded. Do it wrong, and you will pay.

Take the math, don't shrink from the hard stuff. Try whatever shop classes they may offer; if you're good with your hands it may open up new worlds.

And leave Other People's Drama to the other people.

I know a lot of this may sound like what you hear from parents, etc., but it's all true. Trust me on this.

And standing up to bullies got me an occasional suspension for fighting, but I never lost a fight to one; and I often stood up for some kids who were constantly picked on.  Be strong. It will serve you well.

[pickled_pig 7]

EDIT: Honors classes aren't that hard to be honest. I didn't really have any problems.quote>

It's grade inflation. Colleges look for honors, AP, and IB - so there is an influx of dumb people into those "higher-level" classes, dumbing it down for everyone.

One last semester... and then senior year's over.

My advice:  Don't get obsessed with the academic competition that may or may not go on at your school.  If you get concerned with rank and percentiles enough, you start to judge yourself and others purely by those numbers, without any metric of what you'd think were there not these easy numeric data.  You should be there (as has been previously said) to learn, not specifically to compete.  Doing your best is good enough, even if it isn't the best.

As for math, the earlier you get a good foundation, the better - especially if you are aiming towards calculus in high school or college.  Calculus requires that not only you can do math, but also understand math from the inside out.  If you understand that at the beginning of high school, it'll make the entirety of high school math make sense.