Getting through high school can be an amazing and enlightening experience or it could be the worst time of a teenager’s life. It really all depends on the approach. Cliques are inevitable and ability determines popularity. If you don’t care about any of these things, you might be better of but if you do, it can be difficult for you if you don’t end up in the group that you wish to be apart of. For example, if you’d like to hang around with the high school basketball team but have no athletic ability, that’s just not going to happen. Public and private schools alike have these issues and figuring out how to live with them can be difficult. It really starts in middle school and then carries on through high school and sometimes even in to college. Let’s look at some great ways that you or your child can survive high school.
Diversify Your Group
You don’t have to be a part of a clique. In fact, some of the most liked people in high school are not apart of any particular group but are friendly with many different cliques and everyone seems like enjoy having them around. While good grades are extremely crucial, school is also about learning social skills. You should never consider yourself as better than anyone, this will help you to be kind and caring to everyone you meet, popular and unpopular alike. Being friends with people who do all kinds of different things can help you find your niche and figure out where you belong. The more involved you are in different groups in school the easier it will be to meet people and to make friend. Keep an open mind to the types of groups you try out for.
Engage Your Teachers
This does not mean kiss up to your teachers. Teachers and students alike find this annoying. It’s about being friendly and open and communicative with them. One of the many benefits of being on good terms with your teachers is that you may need some of them to write you a reference for one of your first jobs eventually. Teachers are there to help and have the humility to ask for help can show a great deal of character and strength on your part. Contradicting your teacher never gets a student anywhere. The teacher has been doing this a lot longer than you and you are probably wrong. However, if you know for certain that you are correct, then wait til after class to ask your teacher about the subject in a non confrontational way instead of making a big scene in front of the other students.
Prioritize Your Studies
Think long term and see the big picture. It may not seem like it right now but high school is only a few years of your life. It may seem like it’s taking forever but eventually you are barely going to think about it once real life kicks in. However, the grades you get and how well or poor you do in high school will affect you for the rest of your life. The social life you have there will not, but your studies will. Make sure you are doing your homework, keeping to deadlines, taking notes, being attentive and generally doing all you can to get the best grades you are capable of.
Fight a Bully
Bullying is a huge problem in many schools. ‘Fight a bully’ does not mean physically. It means to take a stand and get help. Don’t just put up with it. If someone is giving you a hard time, stand up to them as soon as you can. If they continue, get help from your parents or teachers right away. Bullies can get you side tracked and affect your grades and overall high school experience. Don’t let them take advantage of you.
If you follow these tips, high school may just be the enjoyable experience you wanted it to be. It doesn’t have to be a dreaded four years that you look back on with disgust and contempt. Your high school reunion could be something you look forward to instead of dread if you navigate your high school years effectively.