Back to school

School. You can either make it the best or worst years of your life. I am currently in Grade 11, so I have had my fair share of ups and downs. From walking into an open locker to winning the Citizenship Award, your school career will be as memorable as you make it. Here are five tips to help you survive school.

1. Be organized. Now I know that you have seen this one A LOT, but it is something that you should take into consideration. Keep tabs on what needs to be done, what’s due? When is your test? Are you taking notes? I’m not saying that you need to spend tons of money on supplies, but  you can use your phone to give you alerts for events and work that you have. Note taking is a major portion of high school it helps you stay organized in your different classes and makes it easy for review later on, so make sure that your notes are easy for you to read and comprehend.
2. Get involved. If my school had a motto, this would be it. Getting involved in your school community can be difficult at first, just stick to what you like. Councils, clubs, and sports can help you widen your social circle too which is always a good thing. It is better to try as much as you can then nothing at all.
3. Ask for help. This was something that took me a very long time to understand, I was always scared people would think I was dumb, which was completely unnecessary. Your teachers are there to help you not to discourage you, it’s better to ask questions then none at all, even if it’s a small thing. Trust me there is always somebody else in the class who has the same question so don’t be ashamed to ask for help.
4. Be respectful to your teachers. You may think your cool when you make fun of your chemistry teacher but when your mid-term grade rolls around and your C+ does not get rounded to a B-, you’ll have another thing coming. You may not like all of your teachers but, it will greatly benefit you if you are polite to them, show up to  class on time and at least act like you’re engaged in the topic. When you apply to universities you will need several teacher recommendations, so it’s better to start your relationships early.
5.  Be unique. Doing something on your own is hard, but at times there are things that you need to do by yourself. You need to create an individual path for yourself, what are your interest? What do you like to do? and from that, you will begin to find people who feel the same way. Take a step out of your comfort zone because you never know what you could find a new passion in.