Freshman Days - IDs, Lockers, and Lunch in the Middle.

Welcome back! :] Lexi here, and it's time to talk about....

IDs!

So; unlike most schools, I didn't get my Identification Card handed to me the first day I walked in. It took a month or so before we finally got it. I must admit, it is a little strange to not be able to go into a place without your ID card, but I guess that's how they do things at bars and clubs nowadays. My school is pretty big, so I understand the need for ID cards... we wouldn't want to have students in the school who don't belong! I suggest that you keep your ID with you at all times, never forget it, unless you plan on ditching that day...no just kidding, ha ha, don't ditch. I tied my ID card around a lanyard and tied it to a metal loop on my purse, that way I knew exactly where it was. I also tied my locker and house keys on the lanyard so I wouldn't lose them either! So I recommend keeping them in a place were you won't forget them!

Next up we have...more Lockers!

Oh my goodness...where do I begin? Having a locker partner was something I wasn't expecting...in grammar school and middle school I got my own locker, so I wouldn't have to worry about organizing it that much, but now it's different. Since we share, and our locker isn't even that big to start with, I have the top portion and my locker partner has the bottom, in order to keep it semi-organized. So far, since it's still the beginning of the year, our locker looks pretty decent; a little crowded, but I think I can manage. At least I can find the things I need! There's not much I keep in my -our- locker anyway...
Gym shoes...
Gym clothes...
My lunch...
And my coat. That's sounds like a lot right? Ha ha! Most of my textbooks I leave at home, since I don't need them (my Biology and Algebra are the only two I don't need to bring to school, I keep them at home so I can do the assigned homework). The only tip I'm giving about the lockers is keep it clean, neat, and organized so you can find all of your things! :] It's hard going to your locker in the 5 minute passing period and having to shuffle through junk because you can't find what you're looking for! Or if you try putting something up during lunch and it doesn't fit so you have to shove it in there...which brings us to...

LUNCH!

WOO HOO!

Let your Hallelujah choir sing, because this is the period everyone is looking forward to!
It's a wonderful free period where you can: catch up on your homework, visit the school library to study or read a book, EAT, etc...etc... There are so many possibilities! As I've learned, most high schools give their students the privileges of going "off campus". Yes I know, it's great and all but...there's a downer to this mastermind plan I know you're thinking of right now. Time limits.
It may not take as much time to get to the place you're going out to eat at, but there is something called "lunch-line fiasco". Well...at least I call it that... It's one of the busiest times of fast food places like Subway or 7 Eleven. The lines are probably atrocious! Honestly, though, I can't tell you this from experience because I don't go off campus...but that's not the point! Just think of how long you'd have to wait in line  when it's busy? Alright, let's work out a simple math problem:
Say you go with a group of friends, three at most and it's 11:06am. The time it takes all of you to get there is 13 minutes; then once you get there, a minute for everyone to decide on something; about 7 minutes until it's your turn (and if you're at Subway it's going to take a bit longer), and after you get the food it takes 14 minutes to get back. In total that's 35 minutes, add it to the time you started and that's 11: 41am. The passing bell rings at 11:50 and ends at 11:55; is that really a lot of time for you to eat? And just to top it all off, your next class is gym. I don't think I'd want to scarf down my food that quickly and then throw it back up when I have to run 20 laps, but hey, that's just me.
Anyway, the point is that if you want to go off campus, just eat outside instead of going out to eat, it saves more time that way.

Oh! Well would you look at the time? I gotta get to my next class! We'll continue our conversation later... :]
Ciao!

Freshman Days - Second Week

Finally! The first week is done and over with! ...Now it's time to have a little fun. The first weeks is always gonna be rough, because you're just getting used to this new lifestlye and transition. The second week will go by much more smoothly. :] So let's start this off with....friends.

I remember during my second week of my high school, I wanted everyone to get a feel of what my personality was like. I started making more friends and showing them that little wild, and silly, side of me! I would tell them jokes and stories of what happened to me in one of my classes, or stuff that's happened to me outside of school, and the more I talked, the more friends I made. You don't have to make a lot of friends like I did, but it is good to have maybe a friend or two that you can rely on in each class. Friends make the world go round!

I remember the first friend I made was someone I had met at my Freshman Orientation. We were one of the few freshman who didn't know ANYONE there, so we laughed and talked to each other. It was a little awkward at first, but it was worth it! At first I thought I wasn't going to get to see her again and I got a little sad, but then when school started, I saw her sitting right behind me in my honors algebra class! So that's why having a couple of friends in each class will make your day more exciting!

But one interesting thing that I've seen, even in these early weeks of school, is drama. Drama is something you shouldn't get involved in. Don't talk about people and don't make yourself look too "wild" so people portrait you as something you do not want to be portraited as. I'm trying to work on that myself and it's a little hard, since I've always acted like that around my friends, but some people (jealous people or maybe people who just like to irritate others) may try to break you down for that trait. I've had it done to me many times at my elementary school, and now when people try to destroy me internally, it doesn't effect me. High school will toughen you up and prepare you for the real world, so it's a great learning experience.

Freshman Days - First week

High school! A wonderful 4 years of anyones' life; filled with laughs, tears, memories, and frightening experiences. But you may ask yourself, what makes this so much different than Jr. High? How will I cope with all the homework, especially since I'm going to this or that school? Well, that's what I'm here for. My name is Lexi, and I'm a freshman; I'll be giving you the best advice I can.

Come September, the butterflies in your stomach start flying for numerous reasons: "First day of school's soon... first day of school's soon. I wonder if I may be able to make friends?" and when you get into the school, you just think in your mind, "Wow..."

Next, maybe a piece of paper with your schedule is handed to you at the beginning of orientation/first day of school; this paper, right here, will be your best friend for the time being. My school's schedule told me everything I needed to know; when the class period was, the room number, and the teacher. That way if I were to get lost, I could just ask someone for help. :P

So let's start with...

Tip #1.) Getting from class to class while paying attention to the 5 minute passing bell:

You may think that 5 minutes is a long time, but when you get into those hallways, it's really not. It's so fast paced moving and there are so many kids crowding the hallways, especially seniors, that you'll be lucky if you can even BARELY make it to your class. Pushing through some people may not be the most polite thing, but it's sure effective.

Tip #2.) Locker troubles:
With my school, I had to share lockers with the person in my homeroom and I also couldn't go to my locker during class time, only during passing periods. Each school differs, but I recommend keeping your morning class textbooks with you and then drop them off during your lunch period, then go back and get your afternoon textbooks. That way you don't have to haul so many books in your back pack.

And finally:
Tip #3.) Homework:
I'll probably say this in every single journal, but in order to do well in school, you NEED to do your homework. Even in the first week, you won't get as much as you will during the school year, but you should still make an effort to complete all you can.

Academically, there's one more tip I do want to point out. If you feel a class might be too easy or too challenging for you, talk to your conselour. The point of learning is to challenge yourself, but also to know your limitations of what you can and can't do. Don't think you're not smart just because you're in a regular class; if that's where your mind is then it's fine. Most of my classes are all regulars and they do challenge me, because that's where my mind is.

After the first week, things will go by more smoothly...trust me!