My Advice to Incoming Freshman by Melanie

My Advice to Incoming Freshman by Melanie - March 2019 Scholarship Essay

If I were to lead a group of incoming freshmen on a tour of my high school, the advice I would give to them would consist of both how to survive high school and tips to gain as much as they can from the experience.

The first piece of advice I would give to current eighth graders about to endure the scary experience of entering high school, would be the spoken and unspoken rules of the school. The first set of rules, arguably the most important to avoid irritating others, are how to walk in the hallways. Rule one, always walk on the right side of the hallway and stairs. Our school, being the biggest in the state, has many students crowding the halls during passing periods and with only five minutes to get to class, it is important to keep the flow going by following the rules of the road, but in the hallway. Along with this, don’t stop in the middle of the hallways to avoid crashing into others, and annoying them in the process. Along with these unspoken rules, I would tell them to follow the rules of the school. Show up to class on time and don’t skip class to get everything you can out of your education and avoid detention. Also, if you turn in homework on time and study, you are most likely going to pass the class and likely to get good grades. Most people that fail classes fail because they either don’t have the drive to do their homework and study for test and quizzes, or they don’t ask for help if needed. Most teachers are more than willing to give extra help if you come in outside of class and many get to school early or stay late and are willing to help you do what you can to pass. Following these unspoken and spoken rules of the school will allow you to have a good experience without getting the way of others or yourself.

The second piece of advice I would give to incoming freshman would be to utilize all the resources and opportunities that are available to help prepare for the future. There are so many ways to get involved in the community and the school, to do something your passionate about, and to prepare for the future. There are several sports and clubs you can join, and I would recommend joining something because not only is it a great way to meet people, but it looks great on applications and helps you develop skills and gain experiences that will help you in whatever career you decide to go into, and there are so many options that there truly is something for everyone. There are several club options like health career clubs, academic clubs, volunteer groups, and clubs whose main purpose is to have fun. There are also many sports available to join, a few different theater productions, and a couple different music groups. The main idea is to join something because it really does not only help you with applications, but helps you grow as a person. Also, if you are able to or want to, take AP and duel credit classes. They are great ways to get a taste of college coursework and get free or discounted credits towards your college transcript.

The last piece of advice I would give to the soon-to-be high school students would be to work hard but make time to enjoy being a kid and have fun and make memories. You should work hard to get good grades because it will help you succeed, but it is important to carve out time to relax and time to spend time with friends and make great memories. One of my favorite ways to spend time in high school, was to go to the football games and have a great time with my friends and classmates. There are many school events that you can go to and have fun at like sporting events, drama productions, fundraisers, and dances. I would also recommend going to the pep rallies instead of skipping because they are a nice break in the normal schedule and a great way to have fun. Along with spending time with friends and having fun, you should also make time to relax. Have weekends where you lay at home all weekend and don’t go out much because life does get crazy and it can get overwhelming but cutting out time for yourself will help you not feel so overwhelmed. With that includes keeping a normal sleep schedule. There will be nights where you have to stay up late to get schoolwork done but overall keeping a consistent sleep schedule and getting a good amount of sleep will help you stay awake and focused in class and is good for your health.

If I were to give advice to incoming freshmen at my school, I would tell them to follow the spoken and unspoken rules of the school, take advantage of the resources that are available to you, and to work hard while giving yourself time to relax and have fun. You are only in high school for four years and while it seems like forever when you’re a freshman, by the time you’re a senior, you will wonder how it went by so quickly, so enjoy the experience.