Month March, #Week 5

Unofficial High School Guide

LOCKERS! BINDERS! LOOSELEAF!?

How on earth do I get to gym B?

?SEMESTER? LUNCH HOUR?

Where is the guidance office?

AHH! LOCKER! NO!

What if I get locked in a locker?

Fear and wonder no longer - the guide to high school for the minor niner is here!
(along with some tips for any student of life)

(As compiled by Amba Ramgoolam, a successful survivor from minor niner to savy senior.)

     When approaching that dark, looming prospect of grade 9, or worse, the first day of grade 9, many things can be on your mind: locker combo, new shoes, new hair cut, the cute new co-eds that you'll be socializing with at the back to school dance...not much academia is on that list. Nor should it be: high school life is as much a social education as it is anything else. But there is no reason why the school work part of high school shouldn't go off without a hitch, just like your spiffy new threads or your head turning hair do.

     As horrible as it sounds, homework is a big part of high school. But, it doesn't have to be the biggest, or the worst. If you have a method that works for you, KEEP IT! If you don't have one, get one as soon as you can, even in the middle of the school year; its much worse to wait (take my word for it). The pre-exam madness is a great time to put a new plan into action.

     Time management is the next key tool to your survival. Even for someone who is always on time, always on top of things, high school is the best and easiest way to loose it all. High school introduces all sorts of social and academic opportunities that just aren't available in elementary school. It's not impossible to stay on top of things, but it does take work. One great way is to start to use a planner or agenda to keep track of everything, or to use one of the many digital calendars or planner programs, or even to invest in a lovely PDA style planner, which is available in some stylish new cell phones.

Now its time for those tips... numbers 1 through 10 of The Unofficial High School Survival Guide, in no particular order of importance:

One: KEEP TRACK OF EVERYTHING

Now, don't pull out your ticker tapes and a few reams of paper; I just mean with time. Keep track of every thing you do in one day, and fit it into a time map. That way you can actually see how long you take to do different things, how much 'extra' time you have, and where you can fit in things like gaming, movies, TV, hanging out and "me" time around all the necessities like homework, school time, work and other commitments.

Two: DON'T FORGET TO w.a.d.e! *Write * Assign * Decide * Execute *

Keeping to-do lists of everything for a whole week is not as nerdy as you think; it's a great way of keeping track of everything, not just school work. If you give everything on that list its own space of time, decide to do it at a certain time, and then actually do it (my weakness), you'll be on top of anything that gets thrown at you.

Three: BUY SUPPLIES AHEAD OF TIME

Many teachers, even those at schools that do not provide a list of required materials, expect students to have certain things even on the first day. Pens in more than one colour are an asset for math, science, English, geography, gym (yes, even gym class), and nearly any other subject for clarity of notes and diagrams. Loose leaf (ruled pages/lined paper) is mandatory for every subject, so it's best not to wait until after school starts to stock up (most stores will gouge you if you wait). The most underestimated and under valued school supply for today's high school student is a good set of dividers. A set of 5 for every single subject is becoming a must; many teachers request them and others demand them for a neat and tidy notebook. Either way, it never hurts to be organized (remember WADE?).

Four: SLEEP OFTEN! SLEEP HAPPY!

Getting enough sleep isn't just 8 hours; it's eight solid hours of fully rested sleep, assuming you don't wake up in the middle of the night for a glass of water or to use the bathroom. Sleep has too many benefits to name, and far too many to not stress its importance. Creating a good sleep routine for high school is crucial because, unfortunately, high schools open a little earlier than elementary schools.

Those who catch a bus can end up bleary eyed on the yellow monsters as early as 6:00am! Therefore, some change in bedtimes might be necessary.

Five: RELAX

You don't have any homework due, you're well rested, and your notes are up to date, so why stress it? Take time to yourself regularly, just to keep yourself sane in the madness of teen life. Go out with friends, read a book that is completely un-school related, paint your toenails, have a bath, watch a movie... whatever it takes for you to unwind and relax. Don't stop doing it just because of your new school commitments or assignments.

Six: COVER YOUR ASS-IGNMENTS!

In the technology driven world of today, as your teachers will tell you, plagiarism is a big problem. Not just for the reason that you don't learn anything that way and you're just cheating yourself, but it is met with zero tolerance at many schools; grade nine is no exception in those cases. Learn your school's bibliography and footnoting formats so you never have to worry about using someone else's words, even by accident. Whether a bibliography is needed or not, keep a record (formal or informal) of all the sources you used, both online and books, just so you can tell all whom it may concern exactly where you got your ideas from.

Seven: GET INVOLVED!

Now that you can keep organized, remember all your assignments and do it all with poise, grace, and your 8 hours of REM, start joining some of the grade-A clubs your school offers. Sports of every kind exist in high school, along with teams, clubs, organizations, comities, councils; everything for everyone. The benefits of being involved in your school community are varied, from field trips to awards and scholarships, not to mention the fun!

Eight: DON'T

Don't even think about what you shouldn't do; no one will flush your head down the toilet and people seldom get locked in their lockers for more than an hour. Live your high school life unafraid and full of school spirit!

Nine: DON'T STRESS IT

It's just school, just like before, and no one cares what you wear on the first day. So don't be paranoid about it; the biggest fashion mistake seen in high schools (and quite cruelly, in the subsequent yearbooks) is wearing something that you aren't comfortable in. Sure, low V neck tops might be the style, but if you don't feel comfortable in them and think you might have a wardrobe malfunction, your day might be consumed with worry. Wear confidence (and cleanliness) as your back to school cool - and with organization skills like yours, who wouldn't be confident?

Ten: ENJOY

No matter what magazines, articles, friends, siblings, or teachers tell you, the first week of school will feel like a new, crazy, weird, wonderful, sickening world. You'll want to scream, cry, vomit, giggle, cry, vomit, and smile just thinking about it, but that's how it goes. The best way to approach it is to remember that in a little over a year, you will no longer be minor-niners!