Sophomore year: One of the most stressful times of your life, or so it seems. It’s a new experience, and it feels like you’ll never get the hang of anything. Going from middle school to high school is a big change. Don’t fret, here are a few tips that might help.

First off, going to school is super important. Don’t skip class, it’s a pain to make up all of the work you missed. Staying up all night night and getting only a few hours of sleep isn’t “cool”, and focusing gets significantly harder. To go with those, don’t wait until a week before the deadline to get all of your work in. Same with studying; cramming the night before a test doesn’t really help. Don’t use these as excuses to fail. Passing is a good thing, so are scholarships. Try to stay on track and get good grades, it pays off in the end.

This is it. After graduation, there are no more make ups, redos, docked points, etc. Try and keep that in mind. Asking for help is great, and the teachers and the counselors aren’t the enemy. Don’t be afraid of them, they’re there to help. Also, don’t go hungry! The lunch ladies spend a lot of time making food, don’t let it go to waste. Empty stomachs can be extremely distracting.

Please be nice to everyone, enemies aren’t the best. “[In] middle school, everyone’s friends with everyone. It’s not that way in high school,” said Emily Campbell (‘10) Try to find connections with people, however, friends aren’t everything. Work first, play after. This applies to jobs, too. They may be nice to have, but not when they take up too much time. That doesn’t mean don’t get one, just manage the time. Making room for extracurricular activities is also important. Being involved isn’t “uncool”; go do things! Watch a dance performance, play/musical, sport event, etc. They’re a blast.

Finally, enjoy! Don’t sit around at home all day. There’s so many opportunities to get out and have fun. These are the final years, don’t let them go to waste. Embrace your inner child and have fun. Make the best of it, because adulthood is right around the corner. Looking back and only having negative memories isn’t the most desirable thing.

High school can be a scary thing, same with being alone and in the dark. If you get out and expand your bubble, things will get better. Don’t overwhelm yourself with work, school, and friends. Distribute things equally, but make the best of it. It’s our time, make it count.