Walking into high school can feel like stepping into a new chapter in life compared to middle school. It’s exciting but also a little scary because things are just very different. Here are five things that a lot of us wish we´d known before we started.  

First off, the way people act is a big change. It’s not just about classes, it’s about how teachers and other students are. Natalie Tejeda said ‘’I wish I knew how different teachers and students act compared to middle school.’’ It’s true. Teachers might expect you to be more on top of things, and classmates can seem a bit harder to speak to. It’s a new vibe, and knowing this beforehand would have made it easier to fit in and know what to expect.  

For all you athletes out there, be ready to experience a whole new challenge. High school sports are a whole different kind of challenge, a harder one. Jessica Delagarza told us, “I wish I knew how much harder and different sports are in high school compared to middle school.” Practices are tougher, games are more intense, and you have to really commit to your sport. If you’re planning to play sports, also, compared to middle school, you do have to try out for your sport, knowing this means you can get ready to train harder and manage your time around your sport even better.  

School subjects also get more serious. You won’t just be doing more of the same stuff you did in middle school. Johana shared ‘’ I really wish I knew that the school subjects were going to be so different and challenging’’ High school throws in new topics and goes a lot deeper into others. It’s like moving from learning the basics to really understanding how things work. Being ready for new subjects prepares you more for life after high school, depending on whether you would like to go to college or find a stable job

Also, especially if you love your phone, the rules about phones in high school are different, and they take it very seriously, depending on what school, but they usually have about the same rules. “I wish I knew there was a new phone policy and that they’d be super strict about it’’ is something a lot of freshmen found out the hard way. They really do keep an eye on phone use during school, even to the point where sometimes principals will walk into classrooms looking for phones, so knowing this ahead of time would help you get away from the trouble and help you stay focused on your classes.  

Finally, let’s talk about grades and how much time school takes. It’s not just about passing anymore; there’s a lot more pressure to do really well. ‘’I wish I knew how much pressure there is to get good grades and how much more time school takes up’’ is a common feeling. High school means more homework, college classes if you choose to, more studying, and more focus on what your grades mean for your future. Knowing this early helps you to get organized, find good study habits, and remember to take breaks so you don’t get too stressed out. High school homework can be tough because most teachers give lots of homework rather than small amounts, and it takes lots of time. To avoid stressing out over homework or school work, try and stay for after-school tutoring if Ur school offers it, or ask teachers for help.