As hot summer days begin to fade into fall, with its colorful foliage and football games, signifying, to the delight of few and the dread of many, that school is back in session. Whether you are a senior or a freshman, we are all entering a new school year on a clean slate. Listed below are some tips and pieces of advice for the class of 2028 on how to start your high school career on the right track. While this article is directed to freshmen, it can be useful to students of all ages.
- Join some clubs!
As a high school student, no matter what grade, it is essential that you branch out in many different ways. One excellent way to do so is to join a club or two or ten that DHS has to offer. There are countless clubs for all different interests and niches. From filmmakers club to medical interest club to art club, the possibilities are endless. To learn more about a few of the clubs that the Neirad staff recommends, see our article on Top 10 DHS Clubs to Join at the Club Fair! In short, clubs are a wonderful way to meet new people, learn something new and build your resume.
2. Don’t be afraid to seek extra help – your teachers won’t bite.
One thing that’s certain at DHS is that seeking extra help is critical and commonplace. Enter the Math Learning Connections at 7:30 am on almost any day of the week, and chances are that it will be packed with students of all grades and levels seeking extra help from teachers. This goes for all subjects as well. If you are struggling in class, don’t hesitate to send your teacher an email or just stop into their room in the morning or during a free period. I can guarantee you that your teachers will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Seeking extra help is also a good way to connect with teachers and build relationships with them. This will be helpful in the future when you have to ask teachers for letters of recommendation.
3. Engage in Student Life
Being an active participant in student life is key to becoming part of the school community. Attending DHS sports games, like football or hockey, is a great way to show your school spirit as part of the lively student section. Additionally, the student government works on throwing fun events for the student body, like bonfires and dances. They’ve even got a Homecoming Dance planned for mid-October!
4. Capitalize on Time Management and Organization
There are a lot of differences between middle school and high school. One of those big differences is the amount of schoolwork you’re receiving. As you progress through high school, it’s likely that your workload will multiply exponentially, depending on your classes and extracurricular activities. It’s easy to miss an assignment or forget a due date because of all this work. That’s why being organized is so important and something that you will never regret. I strongly recommend getting a paper planner to schedule your weeks and write down your assignments. If pen and paper isn’t for you, there are lots of online alternatives, like Google Keep and Notion. Another factor that can help you as a new, or old, high school student is time management. Instead of spending your free periods in the cafeteria, go to the library to get your homework done ahead of time. From a senior in high school, trust me when I say deadlines will creep up on you. It’s always better to get things done as soon as you receive the work rather than leaving it to the last minute.
Whether you’re a freshman or a senior, I hope you found these tips helpful and will use them in the future. Now, put down this paper or close out of the tab you’re reading this in, and start working!
