Advice on first year of high school

[Anonymous]

My oldest is going to be a freshman this fall *sniff*

I like getting advice from those who have "been there". She's a good kid - a little quiet, smart, but strong-willed
She'll be going to a brand new school pyramid, fwiw. Her biggest faults are that she's easily distracted and a perfectionist - therefore her homework takes FOREVER and there's little time for socializing. She has good grades to show for it though.

Any general advice for her or me? About being at a new school; being a freshman; being in HS; managing coursework/social life balance?

Just though I might get a few useful nuggets! Thanks!

[Anonymous]

We needs a group. I'd act now. August has sports tryouts, marching band tryouts, etc. Go to the school Activities Office and find out what's happening. Lots of kids are involved in - something - right from the start.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We needs a group. I'd act now. August has sports tryouts, marching band tryouts, etc. Go to the school Activities Office and find out what's happening. Lots of kids are involved in - something - right from the start.

Calm down. That is not true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We needs a group. I'd act now. August has sports tryouts, marching band tryouts, etc. Go to the school Activities Office and find out what's happening. Lots of kids are involved in - something - right from the start.

Calm down. That is not true.

+1

[Anonymous]

Ok, naysayers, mine are in college now. They loved high school. I'm mentioning something that helped them adjust

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We needs a group. I'd act now. August has sports tryouts, marching band tryouts, etc. Go to the school Activities Office and find out what's happening. Lots of kids are involved in - something - right from the start.

Thanks! Mine is a drama girl, so I think that begins when school starts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok, naysayers, mine are in college now. They loved high school. I'm mentioning something that helped them adjust

I have two in college and one starting high school. My college kids did not start high school activities in August as freshmen. My DD starting high school is a theatre geek and will be taking theatre arts as an elective in 9th grade. Nothing in August, though -- just vacation.

[Anonymous]

The drinking parties are every weekend and the summer before.

Kids are drunk at the football games but I would not avoid them, just good to be aware.

Kids cuss a lot, it could be shocking if your daughter is not use to that.

[Anonymous]

Be nice nice to the nerds - someday you'll be working for them.

[Anonymous]

Hold out to find your people. They're there, if you look hard enough. Don't compromise your morals and ethics to fit in.

[Anonymous]

If band of sports don't work out be that mom who allows all the kids to come over to your house and congregate in your basement without being bothered. Make sure you keep the liquor cabinet open and make sure you never check whether anything is missing. Soon your DD or DS will have plenty of buds and you'll be a grandmother.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We needs a group. I'd act now. August has sports tryouts, marching band tryouts, etc. Go to the school Activities Office and find out what's happening. Lots of kids are involved in - something - right from the start.

Calm down. That is not true.

+1

+2
Definitely untrue and kind of silly to panic like that. My DS didn't quite find "his people" until the end of freshman year. He took his time, decided what interested him and steered clear of the kids he had nothing in common with. He graduated last year with a great, tight-knit group of good friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We needs a group. I'd act now. August has sports tryouts, marching band tryouts, etc. Go to the school Activities Office and find out what's happening. Lots of kids are involved in - something - right from the start.

Calm down. That is not true.

+1

My rather quiet DD started a fall sport during the tryouts before school started. She told me it was a huge help in navigating the first few weeks when everything was new because she was always finding teammates to sit with or walk with and she didn't feel so "new." Her friend group has changed in many ways during her first 3 years but she still remembers the casual friendship of the field hockey girls as being a good and helpful way to adjust.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hold out to find your people. They're there, if you look hard enough. Don't compromise your morals and ethics to fit in.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hold out to find your people. They're there, if you look hard enough. Don't compromise your morals and ethics to fit in.

+1

My DD will be entering 11th grade this Fall, and she went through a couple of social groups in HS before finding a few girls she really clicked with. There was a some drama and pain of rejection along the way, but she learned from the experience and is better for it. Tough to watch at times, though.