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I'm Scared for Next Year.
I am thirteen years old, female, and about to go to eighth grade. I'm really scared about it, though, and I don't think I'm prepared enough.
Here are a few things you should know:
- My school closed, so I have to go to a new one.
- I don't know my way around the school.
- I tend to get stressed out about grades.
- I'm awful at making friends.
- I am a perfectionist, and I usually stay up late to finish my homework. (That's something I like about summer -- I can go to bed as early as I want and get enough sleep.)
- School starts in a week.
- I was teased a little about my race at my last school, and I don't want it to happen again.
- I'm very close to my teachers from last year, and they won't be at my new school.
- I was supposed to be put in journalism because I'm a writer, but they put me in something called office aides. I'm rather frustrated about that.
I would really appreciate any advice about how to be more prepared and less anxious. Thank you!
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Want to answer more questions in the Work & School category?
Maybe give some free advice about: School?
Here's what I have to say.
- My school closed, so I have to go to a new one.-
That's the pits, I know. In my lifetime, I've been to nine different school and from fifth grade to ninth, it was a new school every year. You have to remember, though that life is what you make it. Think of going to a new school as being an adventure. The years that I had to change schools and had a bad attitude about it, it sucked. The years that I had a good attitude. It wasn't so bad. It's human nature not to like change, but if you embrace it, it might be a little exciting.
- I don't know my way around the school.- Simply put, you'll learn. Try to get some kind of map of the school and donn't be embarrassed to ask for directions. Think of it as being another part of the adventure.
- I tend to get stressed out about grades.- Don't stress about that. All anyone can ask of you is that you do your best.
- I'm awful at making friends.- So was I, but if you put yourself out there, talk to people, and don't give up, it'll happen for you. You might play a sport for your school or join a club, it might help.
- I am a perfectionist, and I usually stay up late to finish my homework. (That's something I like about rummer -- I can go to bed as early as I want and get enough sleep.)- I understand that, but if you deprive yourself of sleep, then you'll be tired during school and your grades can suffer because of it. Get your homework done as soon as you get home and try to get to bed by 10 o'clock each night.
- School starts in a week.- I always had a little anxiety when school was about to start too, but once you start and get back into the swing of things, it'll be okay. The longer you have off, the harder it'll be to go back.
- I was teased a little about my race at my last school, and I don't want it to happen again.- That's pure ignorance on you classmates' part. I was teased for a condition I have called bell's palsy and one day, I realized that there was nothing wrong with me. I was the way God made me and if anyone made fun of me for it, that was because they were ignorant, not because I had a problem. Think about what you'd think if you heard someone tease someone else for something they couldn't help like race, height, birth defects, disabilities, or anything of that nature. Would you think that they were funny or would you think that they were stupid?
- I'm very close to my teachers from last year, and they won't be at my new school.- That's too bad. I know how that feels, but in time, it gets easier. There will always be people who will come and go from your life. You'll have new teachers in the coming years who'll be important to you too.
- I was supposed to be put in journalism because I'm a writer, but they put me in something called office aides. I'm rather frustrated about that.- That's a coincidence. I'm a journalist and was an office aid in school too. My suggestion is to sign up for a journalism class in high school and enjoy the easy A you'll get as an office aid. All you have to do is help out in one of the offices in the school.
Good luck and hope I helped!
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Just be you.
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Once you get past the first day, everything should get easier from there.
I always hated first days of school. When I went into 9th grade, I went to a new school where I didn't know anyone. It was scary because I didn't know anyone and I didn't know my way around.
You could get online and see if they have a map. If not, then while you're there, there will probably be staff hanging around because there will be lots of new kids there.
I was never good at making friends. I was very shy but somehow I always had a friend in each of my classes. So once you get settled in school, I'm sure you'll end up making some friends.
As for staying up late for homework, that's not a good thing. I always did that and I hated it because I never got enough sleep. I know kids who did there homework once they got home. That'd probably be better to do than waiting till later.
Again, I was also teased in school about my race. I'm Indian and somehow got terrorist jokes, 7 eleven jokes, and making fun of Indian's accent. Kids are really immature, if they do make fun of you, tell them to stop. If they don't, then tell a teacher or counselor.
So to be more prepared and less anxious, don't freak out. Don't procrastinate on work, and just enjoy your time in school.
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Changing schools can be stressful to that there is no question. Just remember you are not the only one with the same fears and questions. All the other students from your old school will face the same questions and challenges you will be facing.
I would think some of your friends from your old school will be at your new school. Find some of you friends from your old school and work through finding your way around the new school together. Teachers and administrators are expecting you so they will be in the hallways during the first few days to help you find your way. If you get lost ask a teacher or administrator for directions that is why they will be in the halls.
As far as being as being teased about your race. This is unacceptable behavior on the part of any student. If you are teased in this manner by other students report them to a teacher or administrator. You have every right to attend classes without being harassed for any reason. If the school does not stop the harassment talk with your parents. They can go to the superintendent of schools or the Board of Education for resolution.
Staying up late to finish homework may be a problem of time management. Time management is a skill that once master will serve you well throughout your life. Those who can control their time as opposed to those who allow time to control them will always succeed in whatever challenges they face in life.
Controlling time is simple once you learn how. You start by sitting down with a calendar and a sheet of paper. On the sheet of paper put headings such as Daily, weekly and monthly. Under each heading list everything you must do under those heading, this includes school work, by subject.
When I was in school some of my teachers in subjects such as English and History would give us our assignments for the week on Monday. We needed to turn the assignments in completed either on Friday or the following Monday depending on the teacher and the assignment. If you have assignments like that those go under weekly. One other heading is needed which would be special project which would be something like a science fair project.
Now look at all the things you must do daily, such as school work, chores around the house and anything I have missed that you must do. Now next to each put down the amount of time you need for each item and homework for each subject. Now add up the amount of time you need each day for these things and total them. Do the same for weekly and monthly.
With the time for weekly and monthly divide those sums by 7 and 30 respectively and add those minutes or hours to your weekly total. You now have the amount of time you must have to devote to necessary chores and homework. Based on this you know when you have to start your homework so you finish in time to get enough rest and have some free time for yourself.
I had you add some time for the weekly and monthly things you may be required time do so you can dedicate some time to them each day or you can dedicate, as far as school work, time on Saturday or Sunday. With special projects when they come along you need to estimate how much time you need and add them into your daily or weekly time schedule.
Time management is not something that is carved in stone. It has to be fluid to allow for changes in requirements placed on you. To start you review you time management each week, say Sunday evening. As you get more comfortable you can review it each month.
I used this management tool in my professional life. It was, until I retired so much a part of me I could plan my time in my head based on this plan. Every six months I sat down with my list, prioritized what needed to be done and when. Looked for trends that emerged or were emerging and planned my next six months work.
Should you adopt my time management suggestion it will not only serve you well now but throughout high school, College and the rest of your life as well.
As for being scared: We all tend to fear the unknown that is just how we are made. Instead of fearing the unknown those of us that learn to embrace the challenge it brings succeed far better in life. Today you have the opportunity of learning to do this in the secure environment of a public school with adults there to help you get over whatever bumps, humps, ghosts and goblins there may be in the road ahead.
My suggestion is you walk into that school with your head held high and a mind set that this is your school know and you are going to make it yours no matter what. You start today by picking out the cloths you going to wear the first day of school, how you're going to fix your hair and any makeup you might be allowed to wear. Have everything all set out so you are not running around trying to find things and getting upset when you can't find something.
If you're taking a lunch to school have it all prepared and in the refrigerator the night before. Most importantly make sure you leave time in the morning for a good breakfast.
I hope this very long answer helps. Good luck in your new school I know you will do well.
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