1. Get Involved! There are a ton of ways you can get involved, through clubs or sports. There are so many options to choose from. It is a great way to get to know others outside of your grade level. You can also build good relationships with teachers this way because many of our teachers are advisors or coaches of clubs and sports. 
2. Don’t procrastinate. Staying on top of your assignments is one of the most helpful skills to learn early on. Don’t wait until the last minute to print something, do a project, or study for a test. Do it as soon as you can that way you are best prepared. As you get older, the teachers become less forgiving about late work and some don’t even accept it. This is why it is important to build good habits and do your assignments when they are assigned. 
3. Don’t stop in the middle of the hallway during passing periods! We all have places to go, and the passing period is everyone’s time to get there. Stopping to hug your friend, or talk to them is causing everyone behind you to stop and maybe even make them late. Don’t be that person; instead, get to where you need to go, and if you see your friend, give them a wave, not a conversation.
4. Participate in Spirit Week! Not only is Spirit Week fun, but it is also great to look at the crazy costumes people come up with. It’s not embarrassing to dress up for the theme for each day. Not dressing up is the lamer choice. The students here really get into it. Even the teachers do too. 
5. Explore different classes. There are so many options to choose from when picking your electives. Don’t just do what you think will be easiest. Try something you’ve never done before; it can help you learn a new skill, make new friends, connect with different teachers, and find out what you like. The best part is, each semester when you get your new electives, you have a chance to see if it is something you want to stick with, if not you can always switch out of the class and into a new one. 
6. Bring a snack to school. You might get hungry before you have lunch, and nothing is worse than sitting through your class unfocused because you just want a little snack. So bring something small, like a gogo squeeze, crackers, or even some fruit. Just make sure your teacher is okay with you eating in their classroom, and, if they are, make sure you clean up any crumbs you make, so it’s clean for the next class. 
7. Build good study habits! Tests and quizzes can be stressful, but ensuring you have study habits that work for you is the best way to ensure you do well. If you are still trying to figure out what works for you, try out different things. Flashcards, online study tools, and even looking over your notes are some things you can try out. It’s important to know what to do so you can do well on an assessment, so figure it out early on, that way you are ready for test day.
8. Clean up your area in the cafeteria. Whether you bring a lunch or buy one, it is still important to clean up after yourself. Not only is it respectful to those around you, but it also makes our custodian’s job easier, and the people who sit down after you won’t be sitting in your mess. 
9. Bring a water bottle to school! You’re in school from 7:42 until 2:05, and if you don’t buy a water bottle from the cafeteria in the morning or at lunch, you will be thirsty.
10. Charge your Chromebook every night! You use it every single day, even if it’s just for one class. Having a dead Chromebook when needed for an assignment, quiz/test is annoying, and then you have to get a loaner. Some teachers also take away points if your Chromebook is dead and you need it. However, most teachers have at least one charger in their class in case of this. 

Junior Sarah Vincent is a staff writer for the 2023-2024 Colonel Newsmagazine. She likes Taylor Swift, sea otters, and drinking iced coffee.