First Day Jitters? 5 Things Every Freshman Should Know Before They Walk Through The Doors On Day 1

Oh no! The summer is coming to an end and instead of late mornings sleeping in and late nights at the mall, you'll be waking up to the sound of your iPhone alarm when the sun is barely up. It's a harsh reality. You keep telling yourself to worry about it later, but later is quickly approaching. Now it's the night before your first day of high school and you're noticing you're more nervous than you thought. 

Good news! This is pretty common. Here are 5 things you should know before walking through those doors on your first day:

1. This is new territory for everyone, not just you. 

Okay sure, maybe you don't care what other people are feeling, but the truth is that you're relatable. And people like it when they can relate to you. So maybe you can look at this as an opportunity to connect with your classmates. You're all in this together, after all 😉.

2. Your teachers might seem scary, but they want to help you.

Their whole job is to make sure you succeed. So if you're lost in the hallway and can't find your classroom, look around for a teacher. If they don't know the answer, they will at least get you a step further towards finding the answer. And who knows, there might be a classmate nearby who was looking for the same information. Now you've figured out where you're going AND you've made a friend in the process.

3. Make sure you have your schedule with you.

While it's fine to have school staff print your schedule out for you, a lot of people are doing that too and staff are very busy on the first day. You might miss part of class if you're stuck in the office waiting for your schedule. It's hard enough walking into your first ever freshman class, but it's even harder walking in late. If you're prepared, you won't have to worry about being late.

4. Expect the unexpected.

Even if you are prepared, that doesn't mean everything will go smoothly. The first day of school can be a little hectic for everyone, including school staff. Maybe there was a schedule mishap and you're supposed to be in a classroom across campus, or they put you in a class with your mortal enemy from middle school. Either way, you unfortunately have to ride the wave. Remind yourself that you are strong and capable; you can handle whatever situation is thrown at you.

5. Show up scared and be yourself.

It makes a lot of sense to feel scared in a completely new environment. You have no idea what it's going to be like. Of course you're scared. But that doesn't mean you should opt out. You are strong, you are capable, you are brave. So show up scared. Own it. Be yourself. Your people will find you.

And if you feel like 9th grade is just too much to handle, you don't have to do it alone. My virtual tutoring services are designed to help you feel confident in your reading, writing, organization, and relationship skills throughout your first year of high school.

Further Reading...