Top Things To Remember When You’re Back In School

Whether you are heading into your freshmen year of high school or college, you are in for quite an adventure.

I know some of you High School students are just itching to get out and get into the "real world" but slow down. Enjoy being in the moment and being able to just wake up every day and go to school then go outside (you should be outside) to play as you wait for your Mother to tell you that dinner is ready.

Trust me - the real world is not all it's cracked up to be.

Right now, you have no bills, no real responsibility but to go to school to learn. I mean, you youths truly have the life.

If given the opportunity, if I had the chance to go back to school, (mostly High School) I would not. Perhaps maybe Elementary School because let me tell you, you invest in those naps and you don't fight them. You will thank me later in life.

It might be scary to start a new school or make new friends but it's all worth it. The transition to High School from Middle School was especially rough for me. I felt like even though I had the same friends, they grew up and we grew a part. I was alone (or so I felt alone) and bullying did take place.

Do not listen to those bullies. Honestly, the people who bullied me in school didn't really end up doing much. Those people may be "cool" in Middle School and High School but give them a couple years and you'll see. Some grow up and some stay exactly the same and you'll move on to be more than you thought you were when you were 16-years-old.

Some more advice - do not give in to peer pressure. I never liked going to parties - yet I did. I also to this day am not a fan of drinking and very very rarely do. The party scene was never for me. Alcohol, was never for me. To this day I constantly hear this when I mention it to people:

"I don't understand why you don't like to drink."
"How do you handle a bad day of work?"
"I still don't get why you don't drink."
"Did something happened where you just don't drink anymore?"
"You should just have a drink and go out. It will be fun."
"What do you even do for fun?"

No. No. No and No. Thanks for all the advice but I am sticking to my guns. Also, why do people care so much about another persons way of life?

I moved to Albany to go to college two years ago and I would overhear these kids (I was 23 when I moved) say to one friend they don't drink and it is not in their beliefs to do so then immediately switch to a completely different person when a different friend would ask them to go drinking that weekend, "Yeah! I am always up for a drink." They would say only ten short minutes after they claimed they didn't drink.

It is not going to ruin your life to say No to someone. If Melody asks you to go out and party and you don't like to do that, then say NO! Melody is not going to ruin your life and if she decides not to be your friend afterwards then Melody was truly not your friend to begin with. You move on and life moves on.

Focus on school and learning. Grades do matter despite what people say. Yes some employers might not bother looking but Colleges do. I would love to go back to High School for one reason and one reason only - to do better than I did the first time around. To be proud of myself and realize that I am capable of getting better grades than the effort I put forth.

Reminders:
1) Enjoy school. You are only that age for a short time.
2) Forget bullies. You are better than they will every be.
3) Do you, and only you. Forget what Melody says or even thinks you should do or not do.
4) Do not give in to peer pressure.
5) Stay true to yourself.
6) Do not be afraid to stickup for yourself.
7) It is OK to make mistakes. You learn from them. You really do.
8) Live in the moment. You will be a 'grown up' sooner than you think.

Have an amazing school year and make incredible memories! Anything special you are looking forward to do this school year?

This article was written by Sara Wheeler. You can follow Sara on Twitter at @Sararosewheeler. Also read some of her other work here.