The Charger offers advice for incoming freshmen

In honor of tonight’s 8th grade promotion ceremony, the Charger has some advice for students as they enter high school.

Entering high school can be intimidating. While some are concerned with changing social aspects, others are looking towards college and academics. Luckily for you, we’ve been there and done that, hopefully we can help make this transition easier with a few pieces of advice.

Sports: For most, the attitude surrounding sports changes in high school. Many begin to take it more seriously and become more competitive. Some even look forward to college scholarships for sports. “Don’t take the practices and games for granted. Push yourself every day, and always remember to have fun while you’re doing it. It’s the last chapter of time you get to compete in most of those sports,” senior Abby Oliver said.

Clubs: Clubs are a crucial part of high school. Not only do they look good on college applications, they’re also a great chance to make a difference in your community. “You get out what you put into each club, so don’t put in minimum effort and expect to make an impact,” junior Laurel Barber said. While it’s a great idea to stay involved, you don’t need to join every single club. The best thing to do is try things your freshman year. Once you find what you enjoy, you can spend the remainder of high school doing what you love.

Social: Along with relationships, friendships also change drastically in high school. Everyone is vying to fit in and this leads to a changing environment in almost every social circle. Rarely will you stay friends with the same group in high school, and that is 100 percent OK. People change, sometimes for better and sometimes for worse. While a breakup or even a friendship breakup can be painful, it gives you a chance to find new people.

High school is a good time to figure out the kind of people you want in your life and what kind of person you are yourself. Don’t rely solely on others for happiness, just stay true to yourself. “Don’t worry if you’re not in a relationship in high school, you don’t need to be to fit in,” sophomore Jayna Keller said.

Academic: The pressure of having and maintaining good grades is likely the most difficult part of high school. “Ask questions when you don’t understand stuff instead of just complaining that you don’t understand it,” senior Maddie Alderman said. The best thing to do is ask questions. Many teachers will do their best to help you understand everything you don’t understand and keep you caught up.

In conclusion, “get involved, have fun, pay attention and work hard in your classes because it matters,” counselor Marilyn Workman said. Never be afraid to ask for help in high school. We’ve all been there and are more than willing to help with anything we can.

Enjoy the summer. School starts again August 20.