1. Avoid the tower.
Avoid the tower stairwell at all costs. Whether during lunch period class switches or the normal four minutes between periods, the tower stairwell, normally just shortened to “the tower,” almost always resembles a New York City subway. There are other stairways which go to the basement or the second floor. It may be a longer walk, but, chances are, it takes less time.
2. Befriend the hand that grades your papers.
It may be difficult to get along with some teachers, but more often than not, teachers care about what is going on. Obviously it is not a good idea to actually be friends with teachers because they are authority figures in the school. However, developing positive relationships with them can come in handy when things are tense at the lunch table.
3. Drama means nada.
In the end, after four years of high school, none of the drama will matter. As senior year comes to a close, most students become reflective and introspective. Girls look back and think about the arguments that happened freshman year and ask ‘What was the point?’ After college starts, all the tiffs that were earth-shattering a few years ago will seem miniscule.
4. Rubrics are essential.
That piece of paper your teacher gives you that gets thrown somewhere in a folder in your bookbag? Yeah, it is important. The teacher is giving you a guide explaining how the assignment is going to be graded. Most of the time there are even descriptions of what exactly each part means. Do not throw away rubrics. At 2:00 a.m. they come in handy when students procrastinate and can’t remember whether the teacher wanted four or five paragraphs.
5. Forever friends.
Chances are that the person you are freshman year is entirely different than who will get a diploma in four years. That being said, those two different people you are bound to be will have vastly different tastes in friends, and the friends of the senior version of you are more likely to stick around than freshman year friends. So, when Becky says she’s mad at you, it will be okay.
6. Don’t burn bridges.
Even though friends come and go, it is still a good idea to try maintain a positive standing with most people. If someone needs help, then help them. This tip helps one be an overall quality person and is not necessarily a good freshman tip.
7. Expect the unexpected.
Some of your best friends and best relationships are with the people you least expect. Even though the guy in your English class is completely your opposite and you often get in arguments, he might be the best person to have a relationship with. Sometimes opposites really do attract.
8. Be nice to the gaming-gifted.
Some may call them ‘nerds’ or ‘geeks’ (apparently there is a difference), but in 10 years many may be calling them ‘boss.’ Clearly it is important to be polite to everyone, but those who focus on friends more than school are less likely to be the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs (I hear the job’s open).
9. Your GPA isn’t everything.
Yes, GPA’s are looked at by colleges, but volunteer work and after school activities are as well. Don’t freak out if you get a ‘C’ on one test.
10. Slow down.
Even though four years seems like forever, in the grand scheme of things it is a blink in time. Enjoy this time while you can because you can’t forever. At the same time, don’t enjoy it too much that you forget what is important. Balance between business and pleasure.
