Entering high school, and even going up a grade, can be a scary experience or thought. As a senior who will be graduating in a few days, here is my advice: 

Friendships

Choose your friends and your friend groups wisely. Even though you were the best of friends with certain people in middle school, or even elementary school, that doesn’t always mean that they’re going to stick with you through high school.  

I have two best friends that have stuck with me since middle school, but now, a lot of the people I was really close with in middle school I don’t talk to that much anymore. Everyone tries to fit into “cliques” and be one with the crowd; sometimes people forget who they are and who their true friends are, and just want to fit in with everyone else rather than being unique. 

Now, there are some people that I am still friends with from middle school, but I don’t always talk to them on a day-to-day basis. Whether you like it or not, your friend groups are going to change in some aspects, and that’s okay, because sometimes it’s for the better. 

People also change throughout high school, and someone you were once friends with could easily change into someone you don’t recognize. So surround yourself with people who are going to uplift you, support you, encourage you, and help you to do better in all aspects of life. Someone once told me that those who surround themselves with people who want to do bad things, you too will suffer the consequences for those bad things; but if you surround yourself with people who have good intentions, you’ll reap the benefits from being around them. 

Academics

When going into my freshman year of high school, I decided to take just the general easy classes, because I had never taken any honors or advanced classes before. I started taking honors and AP classes my sophomore year. I didn’t think that I was smart enough for the smart classes, but here I am, graduating with an Academic Honors Diploma and Indiana College Core. 

Even if you think you’re not smart enough for a class, you should at least try. Sign up for the harder classes. You can always switch out if it’s too much, but I believe that everyone should at least try a harder class or a moderately harder class. 

I used to get FOMO too, which was bad. But honestly, it’s better to miss out on parties that could get you in trouble rather than missing out on your school work and failing an assignment, or even a class for that matter. I do encourage you to do extracurricular activities like sports, going to sporting events, theatre, stuff like that, as long as you’re good at managing your time and everything you have to do. 

Overall, your school work should be most important. If you’re failing a class, or multiple classes, there’s a good chance that you won’t be able to participate in extracurriculars due to the rules in the academic handbook stating that you have to be in good standing with your grades to participate in an extracurricular activity. This is your key to getting into a good college if you plan to go to college, and sometimes, going to a good college is what you need for your future career, and your grades can earn you scholarships in the future as well. 

Even if you don’t plan to go to college when you first go to high school, you might change your mind over the years, and you’ll need the grades to get into a good college. It’s better to try and fail, and learn from those failures, rather than not try at all and still fail with no effort; because in the end, only you are accountable for you 

Extracurricular activities

I was really shy in middle school, so I didn’t do much when it came to extracurricular activities. I started swimming in fifth grade for a club team, and joined the school swim team in eighth grade. I was incredibly terrified of being judged by my peers, but I ended up feeling comfortable. I ended up swimming until my junior year. 

Trying out for something you’ve always wanted to do is scary, because sometimes the fear of being judged by others is more powerful than your will to do whatever it is you have a passion for. In the end, no one will probably remember what you did in high school once you graduate, so do what you want to do and what makes you happy. 

The overall look

Just because someone or everyone is doing something doesn’t mean you have to as well. Be your own leader, because sometimes following the crowd can get you into trouble without even realizing it. 

No one is going to remember what you did in high school in five to ten years, or who you hung out with or that one time you got laughed at because you fell down the stairs. The stupid stuff isn’t going to matter, because there’s a good chance you probably won’t see any of these people ever again. 

Stop worrying about who’s hanging out with who and who’s dating who; stop focusing on other people so much. You are not responsible for other people and their actions. You are only responsible for you. 

Be unique. Be you. Lastly, don’t let anyone stop you from accomplishing your goals or dreams.