Teen Talk
Starting School off Right
By Tyler Alexander
With the back to school commercials now airing, students all around Palm Beach County are feeling their hearts sink and their stress levels rise. The commercials signify summer vacation coming to its saddening end, and reality setting in. With the upcoming school year quickly approaching, here are some tips on how to handle the dreaded beginning of school.
Leading up to the first day:
Employ a trick my mother always used with me. Begin to get back into your morning routine a week before school starts. Nothing says summer quite like going to bed at three in the morning, and sleeping till noon. The sudden change to waking up at six for a full day at school can be a challenging task. My mom used to make me go to bed earlier and earlier each night leading up to the first day of school. Slowly adjusting your sleep cycle throughout the final week of summer makes waking up at six as tolerable as possible.
Handling the first day:
Go in with confidence and relax. Being tense on the first day sets up the entire year for stress and anxiousness. My freshman year I was scared beyond belief, and while the day wasn’t bad, everything was very overwhelming. First day of sophomore year was much better. With knowledge of how things went, the entire day was spent relaxing and getting into the swing of things. Being in a new environment can be tough, but remember that the first day is very easy going and straightforward. Just relax and everything will be all right.
For the first part of the year:
Get to know your teachers early. Set up a relationship with them to become comfortable with asking for advice or questions. If you can start off on the right foot, the entire year will be easier. (Deleted a sentence here…repetitive). It’s all about communication. Talk to them about any issues, concerns, troubles you may have. They’re there to help. Maybe even set up a parent teacher conference to address any possible worries.
DON’T GET BEHIND. I can’t stress enough how important it is to not get behind. I’ve done it multiple times and have regretted it every time. Getting behind is the worst thing you can do, especially early because it sets you up for the same routine for the rest of the year. Starting the year off with a D is extremely hard to recover from, even with time left. Avoid it at all costs. Treat the beginning of the year as you would the end. Study as hard as you can, for as long as it takes. Getting a good grade on your first test can be the difference in your final grade. Even if the teacher is just offering extra points for a signed syllabus, get it done. NEVER GET BEHIND.
Everybody reacts to the beginning of school differently, but there are little things you can do to make the year better. One way is by starting off strong. These are some things that I personally have noticed over my years when it comes to starting the school year with success. Starting off with success is easier than you think, and I know you can do it! Here’s to a successful school year to students everywhere.