Sasha is a rising high school freshman and lives in the Fairfield County area. She will tell you that as an elementary school student she fantasized about high school but never thought the day would come. And here she is, on the verge of walking through the doors of her new high school. Read her tips and thoughts below for entering freshmen and their parents about how to tackle the transition to 9th grade.
THE UNKNOWN...
During middle school, we become close and form meaningful connections. And then, we’re thrown into a completely unknown environment and expected to find a new group of peers. But making new friends seems infinitely more difficult now than it was when we were younger. It seems that people get more judgmental as they age. So, when the first day of school rolls around, the sad truth is that the first impression we make could determine what people think, which brings me to the ‘clothing conundrum’...
WHAT TO WEAR...
While I’m sure most of us prefer having freedom in what we wear, as opposed to having a uniform, it seems that a uniform is easier and causes less stress. If there is no uniform, we have to find clothes that adhere to our school’s dress codes but also fit our own personal style. Because of this, the options are narrow down considerably, and we still have to think about making a good impression. So, when all of these factors are combined it is extremely difficult to buy all the right ‘high school’ clothes. If you’re looking for where to shop, here are some personal favorites.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND BOOKS...
Clothing is only half of the back-to-school shopping dilemma. Since it’s now August, most of us have received our school supply list. On that list, there are notebooks, pens, organizers, and at some schools, textbooks. And, let me tell you, textbooks can be expensive. Some people buy them second-hand from kids who have already gone to their school. But what if we don’t know anybody at our new school? Amazon is a great resource that sells new, used, eTexts, and even rents textbooks. All that's needed is the title of the book or ISBN number (ask your school for it).
COURSES AND TIME MANAGEMENT...
Course registration was a real challenge! When I first researched my school’s offerings there were so many choices and not enough space or time to schedule everything including homework, clubs, sports, activities, and still have down time. To make sense of it all, consider using a good planner to keep track of things. Check these out!
SOCIAL MEDIA…
Social media is a great way to learn more about the school we're about to enter, so follow your school on Instagram, reach out to others who follow and through that create connections that may relieve the "who do I sit with at lunch" dilemma. This can be really helpful in dealing with the anxiety of starting a new school!
TIP TO THE POWERS THAT BE…
It’s guaranteed that the majority of us incoming high school students would prefer it if parents didn’t get super involved with campus life. But if you must, just be mindful of the student’s space. Let’s face it, no one in high school wants to see their parents in the hallways during the day!
