Advice to Freshmen, From Seniors

BY WENDY LUN

After pulling through four years of school, seniors have become proficient in handling their time here at Cooper. We are ready to break free from the repetitive high school schedule and start our lives away from this institution. Other students, however, have just entered their first year. While some newcomers succeed with ease, others need guidance to help them through these tough times. Only a few tips are necessary to make it out of freshman year alive.

1. Don’t be scared to join extracurricular activities.

You can never be too late to join a club you are interested in, but it is best to start early. Many freshmen shy away from joining teams and clubs, afraid they will get judged by the upperclassmen or concerned they don’t belong. Clubs provide a way to meet new friends who have the same interests as you. In addition, colleges admire a student that are active outside the classroom. Leadership and skills can be developed through participation of extracurriculars. Cooper City High has so much to offer and it’s a waste if you don’t take the opportunities in front of you.

2. Slacking off will never reward you.

Being lazy in your first year of high school will catch up with you. Senioritis should not hit this early, trust me. Instead of succumbing to the procrastination, work towards achieving high grades. Not only will your GPA start high, but you can be lenient on yourself towards the end of high school, when the real senioritis commences.

3. Popularity is not important. Don’t get caught up in relationships.

The bonds you make now may or may not last for all four years of high school, but the work you do will. While you do not want school to determine your priorities, understand your social life should not precede your school life. Skip out on that party on a Thursday night if you have a chapter test to study for the next day. If you finished that English essay on the Great Gatsby, then treat yourself to a movie night out. A barrier between the two is necessary to survive your high school years. Don’t deal with relationships that are toxic to your well-being; the people you surround yourself with should encourage positivity and not the other way around.

4. Treat others with respect.

This is common sense, but for some reason, high schoolers generally lack consideration for others. Don’t disrespect your teachers. They don’t work for your appreciation but they will be thankful for the manners their students convey. It makes the school year more difficult for the both of you. Don’t be discourteous to your peers, either. Rudeness and bullying is not tolerated in school, or in life.

5. Stay true to yourself (as cliche as that sounds).

Real life is nothing like a stereotypical 80s John Hughes movie. High school is not as simple as fitting into categories. Popularity is not vital to your success. Learn what you like and what your passions are. Find what works for you. High school is the time to discover and experiment so take advantage of it.
Upperclassmen will always complain about the freshmen who don’t know how to walk in the hallways or stop chattering in class. It’s inevitable. These annoyances are unimportant. As the youngest of us all, you will make mistakes, no matter the amount of advice you have received; regardless, following these basic tips will aid not only in high school but in life. High school isn’t the end-all, be-all, but you might as well make the most of it.