Newsome High: How to Survive the next Four Years
July 22, 2021
A teenager’s high school experience will forever be cemented in their minds as four years of drama, stress, fun times and learning. Life at Newsome High School can be interesting at times,
to say the least. Figuring out how to live four years in the prison that is high school can be tricky. Here are some tips that may be the factor between survival or “death” at Newsome High School.
- Figure out who you share classes with.
Before the year even starts, the number one priority is to find out who you share classes with. This helps with making friends, avoiding enemies, homework help and more.
- Find a group of friends.
This is crucial. No one wants to sit alone at lunch or in the corner in class. Even if you are shy, please do not be afraid to be social. Try to join a club, sports team, society, anything that helps you find a group.
- Learn the building location rules.
Now, this depends on the school, but with Newsome High, the rules are relatively easy. To the right of Student Affairs(100) are the even-numbered buildings (200, 400, 600,800 ). To the left are the odd-numbered buildings (300, 500, 700). Then behind the 300 and 500 buildings is the 900 building. In buildings 300-600, any classrooms above 20 (Ex:343) are upstairs, and any below is downstairs. In the 900, anything below 50 is downstairs, any above is upstairs.
- Make nice with the cool teachers.
This one is pretty obvious. If you get on their good side, it always helps in the future. In addition, try to figure out who the lenient teachers are and who the strict ones are. This will help you know who to avoid or be cautious of in the halls.
- Ignore the haters.
People will judge you for something. That’s just how teenagers are. The best thing you can do is just ignore it. Find your worth and do not let other people dictate who you are.
- Avoid the Drama
Pretty self-explanatory. Drama can almost always lead to losing friends, which no one wants. If you are caught up in any drama, just remember that you guys are teenagers. This will probably be forgotten about in 20 or so years.
- Don’t believe everything the upperclassmen say to you.
This may go towards rumors, running jokes, or snide comments. A prime example is the running joke about the pool on the roof that upperclassmen like to tell freshmen. To be clear: there is not a pool on the school roof.
- Establish a work ethic.
Very very important. You will be given a lot of work, there is no way around it. The best thing to do is to plan time wisely. Take everything in your typical day into account. This may include: when your school day ends, any FLVS/HCC classes you may be taking, sports/clubs you are in if you have a job and/or home responsibilities. Try to manage time wisely and not procrastinate. Otherwise, you will fall behind.
- Try to get a driver’s license as soon as possible.
This will just make high school life much easier. If you don’t know how to drive, take Driver’s Ed. Once you have a license and a car, you don’t have to depend on a ride to and from school. Juniors and seniors can apply for a parking pass in the student parking lot. Sophomores can always park by the Winn-dixie, which is better than nothing.
- Do not surround yourself with only upperclassmen.
You are allowed to have friends in high grades. If you only have upperclassmen as friends, what will happen to you when they graduate? Once they leave, you’ll be alone. One suggestion is to make friends in your grade as well, so it will be less hard to establish a new group.
- Do not develop Senioritis.
Once senior year rolls around, students typically start to lose interest in school and begin to slack on work. This is called Senioritis. Do not start to not do work, or try less at it. Senior year is still a part of high school. Just because you are almost done, doesn’t mean you are done yet.
- Plan for life after school.
Last but not least, know what you are going to do in real life before you finish high school. This is not required mind you, but at least have an idea. Prepare for the real world. Apply colleges, trade schools or jobs. Work on a scholarship, or join a community college. Find something you are interested in and build a path.