You know it’s coming when high school counselors pay you and your classmates a visit at the junior high. They hand you that yellow card and tell you to fill out your wanted classes for next year. Everyone at some point in their lives has to make the jump from junior high to high school. For some, it’s the scariest leap they’ll ever make. They’re the ones who are always thinking, “Will the seniors stuff me into a trash can or locker?” or “I don’t know anyone. What if all of my friends ditch me for more cool, more popular people?”

Fitting in is so hard to do when you’re a teenager. Everyone expects more out of you than they did when you were in elementary school. The best thing to remember when trying to blend with the crowd is to be yourself. Even if you don’t have the most fashionable shoes, the latest makeup styles, and (guys), even if you prefer not to sag those pants way down to your knees, it’s OK. That is what is wrong with part of today’s society. People are always quick to look at the outside instead of the heart and the intentions of the person inside. If you be yourself, someone, whether they be the cheerleader or the nerdiest geek in school, is bound to notice you.

What will make starting high school easier? Having friends who are juniors and seniors can be helpful. They can give you the scoop on what teachers are the best, where to sit at lunch, who to avoid and shortest route to classes. Old friends are great as well. That way you don’t feel like a loner the first day back. Expanding your horizons is always a good thing, but if you’re shy and timid, it can be rough to try and make new friends. Most junior high and high school kids have a hard time making new friends and introducing themselves to people, especially if they’re not very well known or popular. Keep in mind is that if somebody blows you off, it’s not your loss.

Having confidence in yourself is one of the greatest tools to use when making new friends. If you’re a little shy and you have no idea how to approach someone and talk to them, then here is a little advice: Remember to have confidence in yourself. The person you confront might be just as shy as you or just as nervous about school as you are. It’s best to talk with someone who has some of the same classes you do. That way, you have a chance to talk to them more often and get to know them a little better than just a “Hey, how are you doing?” in the hall every once in a while. The more outgoing you are, then the more friends you’ll have. The more friends you have, the happier your high school years will be, and everyone wants to remember their years in high school as the best years of their lives.

There are so many opportunities in high school that you have never even dreamed of in junior high. It’s possible to say that it’s the best four years you’ll ever experience in your life/. What’s there to be afraid of?

— Kate Dempsey will be a sophomore at Free State High School.