As classes begin in June, it will be quite an overwhelming and exciting experience for a new high school graduate, as one begins to live a busy college life. For the elementary graduate entering secondary school, there’s a hint of nervousness to the new curriculum. In the end, it’s all mixed emotions for everyone.
Everyone will feel the anticipation of seeing new and old faces, or feel intimidated with the new lessons and the new teachers. Or feel the hope of discovering new things and gaining more experiences for the future.
Setting goals and preparing yourself for the bumpy road ahead should be your first priority. The farther you go, the more difficult it gets––and that’s the same way life should be viewed. The last thing you want is to have trouble on the first day, so start by getting to know your classmates and teachers, as well as the syllabus of every subject. Getting ahead of things is like having your car tuned up for the ride.
If you have difficulty making new friends, then make this school year the time you come out of your shell. Find someone who looks good-natured and friendly; be the first to walk up to them.
Find an area of interest, and begin to make friends. Don’t excuse yourself with the assumption that you have enough friends. It’s better to surround yourself with more acquaintances than with more strangers.
Everything ready
Always make sure you have everything ready. Have all your textbooks, your writing materials, paper, and all the other necessities needed for school. The last thing you want is to be unable to list down things properly during class, or even be scolded by a teacher for being unprepared.
Have an open mind, because a lot of different things will be coming at you. New teachers will have different teaching style, advanced lessons will have more complicated terms, and some classmates will have different personalities. You’ll need to prepare yourself for the different people you will meet, and the different topics you will be introduced to.
Returning to school is like going to a public event; just like a party, there will be much to see and much to learn. Accept what comes at you and learn from it—it’s what you are there for.
Keep a positive attitude and relax. You’re not going to jail after all, nor were you forced into a lifetime of service behind bars. You were placed at a desk to listen to someone who knows more than you, so you will eventually know as much as they do. Look at school like a path to success, and a preparation for the rest of your life. If you already do that, then keep doing it!
Enjoy what you do and what you have, and what you don’t enjoy, learn how to do it with ease and interest. Everything can be done in a more effective way. Don’t ever give up on your studies! Hopelessness is just a feeling; it is never a permanent state.
Hannah Nolasco is a 14-year-old student from De La Salle Santiago Zobel School. She has a lot of hobbies, most of which involve art—from digital art, painting, and sketching, to poetry, sonnet, and story writing. Aside from singing and playing tennis, she loves to read mythology and epic poems during her free time. She has hopes of publishing a book someday and dreams of becoming a geneticist when she grows up.
