Going from middle school to high school can be a difficult change. It might take some time for you to adjust. Going to a larger school, having new teachers, new friends, and being the youngest in the school can be intimidating.
As a high school student, attending games are a great way to show school spirit. Football, basketball, and volleyball games are some of the most frequently attended events.
Cheering and showing your support is one of my favorite parts when I go to games. It’s also important to support student athletes. Sports are expensive, so going to these games and buying tickets helps these athletes be able to continue with their careers. These athletes work extremely hard to get to the level they are at, so we need to show them that their hard work pays off.
High school games are such a special and unique experience that you only get to experience in these four years. Enjoy yelling cheers in the student section and getting all dressed up. High school only happens once, enjoy the time you have.
One thing that may be a little hard to admit to yourself is that not everyone is going to like you. High school is such an odd environment. This being your first year, you are guaranteed to have some friendship break ups.
Another big piece of advice is to not change for anyone. Changing yourself to be more accepted by someone will only make you feel worse, from friends to romantic partners, to anywhere in between. Your friends are gonna change this year, as going to high school is a transitional period. If you feel that you have to change your personality to be around your “friends”, then they are not worth your time. If you feel you need to change for your crush to like you, they are not deserving of your love.
Someone out there loves you for who you are. Someone wants to be friends with you for who you are. Real friends will love you for exactly who you are. If you have to change yourself for your friends to like you they are not your friends.
The switch between middle school and high school is going to bring along changes, maybe trying out a new style or talking to new people. Join clubs. Try out different sports. Find out what you love. You will never know if it’s the thing for you until you try it, and if you don’t love it you can always try something else. Trying new things can help you grow and learn more about yourself. Take advantage of this transitional period and be more adventurous. Experiment and find what you like. Put yourself out there. Find your people.
Don’t worry about your appearance. When you enter high school there is a lot of pressure on you to fit in. Whether it’s about your looks or the way you dress, there will be pressure to fit in. My advice is to dress how you want, and If your style doesn’t fit into the norm, who cares. If you like it, that’s all that matters. Don’t feel pressured to dress a certain way to be popular. If wearing extreme extravagant outfits makes you happy, wear them. Just be yourself.
Don’t worry about your body. Especially for girls, I have noticed a lot of pressure to be thin. The diet culture around high schools is extremely toxic. While going on a diet due to health reasons is not bad, in high school there’s a fine line between healthy and unhealthy eating.
Personally I have seen girls who have started a diet that led to starving themselves and eating concerningly small amounts. Eat what makes you feel good and is good for your health. Before dieting, think about the reasons why you want to diet. Always do your research and discuss with your doctor before trying a new diet. Do what makes you feel more comfortable and confident in your skin. In the end, all that matters is that you feel good about yourself. Don’t let anyone tell you how you should look.
Have fun. You’re only in high school for only four years. Enjoy them while they last. Be yourself. Go to games. Don’t worry too much about high school, just have fun.
