1. Make the most of it. Join groups that sound interesting. Get involved in volunteer projects and service hours. Sample new experiences and meet new people. Try hard to go on at least one school-sponsored trip abroad.

2. Try to get out of your comfort zone a bit. Hanging out with the same groups and the same clubs is OK, but try new stuff also.

3. Good or bad, remember that it only lasts 4 years. It is a real part of your life, but it is a terrible predictor of the rest of your life. A lot of ‘A’ students go on to mediocre lives and a lot of nerds and ‘losers’ go on to great success. A lot of the ‘cool folk’ are peaking now and will only go downhill, and a lot of the unpopular kids will blossom later.

4. It is never too early to start thinking about the next part of your life. If you plan on college, what classes can you take now to help out? Start keeping an eye out for what majors might interest you.

5. Wear sunscreen.

High school is definatly a great time as long as you balance work and play. You need to get good grades and study, try to prepare yourself for the future but you also don’t want to get so wrapped up in studying that you forget to have fun. The best times I’ve had in my life was probably at homecoming and friday night football games!

Once you get in school you will think you were so silly to be nervous! Unless you are moving, you will still be with a lot of your old friends and get to make new ones! Be cautious about gossip, it never ends good!

I wish you the best of luck!

Email me if you have any questions!

– Don’t take classes you’re not required to take if you don’t like them. Trust me.

– Don’t p*ss the teachers off if at all possible. It’ll be easier for you if you don’t.

– Join a club. Or two. Or seven. Just don’t overschedule yourself- pencil in some nap time.

– Don’t cling to your old friends- don’t abandon them either. FInd a balance between new and old friends, and then keep it.

– If you could possibly, at any time in the future, ask yourself why you did it, it’s not worth doing.

– Homework is more important then ever.

– Be nice to the nerds.