So if you are in high school or are going to be soon, you know that sometimes things can be a little challenging. Whether that be the new environment, new teachers, awful classmates, or the buttload of homework. But have no fear! Maybe I can help you with a few tips this Junior (me) in high school has to give!

Attendance

Attendance is literally SO important. I CANNOT stress this enough. Back in elementary school it was always fun to miss a day or two, since it was easy as hell to get caught back up, but if you miss a day in high school, you are literally screwed. There are times now that I will miss a class trip because I don't want to fall behind, and it's a shame really.

If you are aware that you are going to be gone beforehand, get the homework EARLY. Trust me, this will take a lot of the stress off your shoulders. Working on your absence work before the day you leave will be a lot easier for you to focus, since you aren't rushing to get it turned in, and your teachers will love you for it. They would rather you turn it in early rather than late.

If you do miss a day and didn't know you were going to in the first place, there are a couple of tips to help you when making that work up. One of those is to talk to your friends about the work that day; whether you talk via text, Skype, or anything else, it works as long as you understand. I actually have a friend that offers Skype calling math teaching, and many people have said that it helps a ton.

NEVER skip a day of school just because you "feel" like it. That's the perfect way to get on the teacher's bad side. I go to a smaller school, so I'm not sure what it's like in a bigger one, but around here, if you skip a day because you wanted to, everyone knows it. It makes you look irresponsible and careless.

EXTRACURRICULARS  

Joining clubs, organizations, sports, and helping the community really gets you out there, guys. Again, I live in a small area where people recognize this more, but I guarantee it will make you a better person. Just from joining a couple of clubs at my school and getting out in the community and helping, I've gained so many friends and connections to adults; adults that might hire me someday for a job possibly. 

Not only does it break you out of your shell, it also looks fantastic to colleges and on job resumes. They really do look at that a lot too, not just grades, promise me. It helps you develop skills as well in the future that you will need, such as public speaking, computer applications, and business.

Get involved!

FUN ACTIVITIES

Guys, seriously, get involved as much as you can, because when you're older, you'll seriously regret it. Don't be that loser who sticks their nose up to Prom because it's "lame". Trust me, I got invited to go last year but turned it down, and looking back on it now, I wish I would have went because it looked like so much fun. Be active in your school. Show some pride.

At my school, we are all in charge of decorating our gym for Homecoming. Each class has their own "wall" that we get to decorate with whatever we want, and every single year, it ticks me off. This is something we're all supposed to get together and work on and have fun, but literally only 8 or so people, including me, come to work on it. It puts a lot of stress on us, and then for everyone else to claim that it looks bad afterwards is so aggravating.

What I am saying that for is because I want you all to realize that you need to do as much as you can. Try new things; you might have fun. Working on that wall is one of the funnest things to do, when we aren't rushed to work on it. Always help as much as you can.

SPORTS

Like I said above, getting involved in sports is a great thing to do. It gets you out there and you can wind up having loads of fun. But what I am here to say now is to not become obsessed with it.

A lot of the people at my school live, eat, and breathe basketball, baseball, softball, ect. Not only do I find it ridiculous, but it comes to a point where they don't care about their grades anymore. Find a way to balance that in your high school life to where it's fun and you get your work done. Never tip the scale; you'll wind up in a bad situation. 

RANDOM

Gum is a mandatory school supplies. Always remember that. So are headphones.

Don't walk into high school your freshman year thinking that you will stay with the same group of friends. Things happen, things change, and you have to accept that. I know, it sucks, but it's better to accept it now than later. Just know that people change.

Don't think you have to have a boyfriend/girlfriend to be "cool". I don't have much experience in this department, but I've noticed that people who do have gf/bf in high school dedicate a lot of their time to them rather than themselves. Keep up with your schoolwork and maintain your mind as well.

If you go to a school like mine and you can't have phones out at all during class (unless you sneak it), a good place to hide it is in the rim of your pants by your hip. Your shirt covers it up and it is disguised quite nicely. Just make sure it's on do not disturb!

If you don't understand something in class, seek help. The more you put it off, the more you will struggle later.

Set goals. Challenge yourself.

Don't brag about how much you drank the previous night or how much weed you smoked. No one cares or ever will. Be spontaneous by any means sometimes, but don't make it a regular thing. Don't make it your lifestyle.

FOR THE LADIES

As a female in high school, I've learned the tricks of the trade for our little "monthly" issues. Hopefully these few little tips will help you guys as well.

Always keep a tampon/pad in your purse or backpack to where it's easy access to get to it before going to the bathroom. Keeping a pair of underwear as well is great help, and sometimes I keep a pair of pants or shorts in my locker as well for occasional bleed throughs.

Got cramps? Keep a bottle of painkillers on you. Just don't let the teachers see you *wink wink*

If a teacher ever denies you the right to go to the bathroom, not only should you throat kick them (just kidding), but just simply say "um, I'm a girl" and they should get the memo. If they don't, their dumber than a sack of potatoes.

Follow the school dress code. If you follow the rules and anyone ever tells you that what you're wearing is too revealing or distracts them, tell them to keep their eyes to themselves or else they can go home. Your education matters most. Keep slaying ladies.

Don't think you have to load on the make-up to look pretty. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that, but you all are beautiful without it. Dress to impress, but dress for yourself. I always go to school with the mindset "I don't have to look good for anyone but myself". You all are beautiful, remember that. 

I know guys, we ALL hate school with a burning passion, but make the most out of it. You only get the numbered years, and it will only get harder the older we get. Before you know it, you'll be a senior graduating and saying goodbye to all of the wonderful people that helped you make it there. 

I hope those little tips helped, even if it was just a little. Stay in school kids and stay safe!