I remember I felt completely disoriented in West my first day of freshman year. The worst part of the first week of school was trying to figure out which staircase I needed to go up to get to Honors World Geo or Spanish. The one piece of advice I feel like I can say about anything is, “It gets better.” In the next few weeks you’ll get to know your way up, down, and around the school, I promise. Now I can look back and laugh that I got so confused trying to find my art class. I actually feel flattered when a freshman asks me where their class is. I must look like I know my way around. Though I did send a girl in the wrong direction one time…sorry, I don’t know room numbers.

Now maybe you’re waiting for some great advice from the wise senior, so I’ll do my best.

• GET INVOLVED: The oldest piece of advice in the book of high school advice. But really, don’t be afraid to join a club you’re interested in, you will make new friends and maybe find a new passion. Being open is the key. Try a sport. Even if you’re not that great, it really is a lot of fun.
• Talk to new people: You never know who you could meet and become friends with. Don’t be shy!
• Do your homework: Getting good grades is good. It’s simple. Being on top of your homework helps you out in so many ways. Having good grades and good study skills will help in college or your job.
• Take fun classes while you can: Art classes, video production, journalism, sewing, foods, digital design, choir, band, woods, metals, the list goes on and on. Having a class you can relax and have fun in is important when you have a busy schedule.

If you follow my advice, everything you do for the rest of your life will go completely flawlessly. Or maybe I forgot one more:

• Don’t be afraid to make mistakes: It’s horrifying, but not everything will go according to plan. It really is okay to make a fool of yourself sometimes. You’ll actually have more fun if you’re not worried about what people think. But maybe don’t purposely make a fool of yourself, I feel like I should say that.

Try to enjoy your time in high school; it’s over faster than you think. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or directions when you need it, we’ve all been there. Enjoy your freshman year!