I started attending high school in September 2023. It was a big change transitioning from prep school to high school. There were more subjects, more teachers, more clubs, more responsibility! At first, I was very anxious and wondered if I could handle it. Thankfully, I managed it very well- of course with the help of God and the support of my parents. As I reflect on the year, here are six tips for managing your first year of high school.
6 tips to manage 1st form
1. Always Put God first- He is our heavenly father. Phillipians 4:13 states “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Whatever is happening at school, tell God about it. If you need to make a decision at school or anywhere, ask God for guidance. Before and after an exam pray to him. You can talk to God about anything, anywhere, anytime. Whatever you do, put God first. Make it a habit to pray, worship, read his word and attend church. He is the one who will help you to stay focused and excel.
2. Manage Your Time Well- When in high school you will get a lot of individual assignments and group work. You should manage your time well; meaning, when you get home from school, don’t spend most of your time watching Tik Tok or being on social media. Complete all your assignment that are due the following day or the next two to three days, then you can spend a little time on social media (if your parents says you can of course). That is a major part of managing your time well-doing your assignments before anything else.
3. Ask For Help- In first form you will learn many new things in your classes. Let’s say you don’t really understand, ask the teacher to explain it again. Or if you get classwork and you are having a challenge with the questions or activities, ask for help. This will help you also when you are studying, you are likely to remember what your teacher explained to you. You should also let your parent or guardian know if you are having a difficulty in any subject area. They may be able to get extra tutoring or support for you or maybe they can assist you.
4. Stay Focused- As a first year student in high school, you will meet new people and if you pass for a co-ed school (having boys and girls) it could get quite distracting interacting with persons of the opposite gender during your tween and teen years. Stay focused! Keep your eyes on the goal of success. Let’s say you’re in class and you like someone-don’t spend all your time thinking about that person- forget about them and stay focused in class. Or if you are completing an assignment and you have your phone right beside you that is a big distraction; put it away and stay focused on what you are doing. My pastor, Apostle Dr. Courtney McLean always tells us, ‘You can’t truly focus on more than one thing at a time’.
5. Be Organized- This is a big way to stay on top of things in first form and beyond. I remember on the day of high school orientation, my mom gave me a book, she told me to use that book to record all my homework assignments and due dates as well as any other important information activities I would need to remember. Almost every day of the first month, she would ask me if I had used it and reminded me to check on my assignments, ticking off those that I had done. I felt like it was a lot but I obeyed. After a while, it became a habit. This prevented me from missing due dates and feeling pressured because of built-up work. It is also important to organize your space. Have a specific area where you store your books and school supplies and try to keep your room and study area neat and clean. Organization helps you with concentration and productivity.
6. Get Involved-Try New Things.
At my high school, a few weeks after we (first formers) started to attend the school, they had a club exposition to introduce to us to the different clubs and societies they have. This encouraged me to try new things and get involved in various clubs, teams and societies. This benefited me by building my social skills and teamwork habits. Some of the clubs i joined also helped me with specific subject areas. Being a part of a math club, for example, can help you to practice more and understand some math topics better, which will help with your grades. When you get involved and try new things, you will learn new skills develop new skills and become more committed and disciplined helping you to grow through your first year in high school and the rest of your high school life.
For students who are transitioning from the primary level to high school this year, remember that with the right attitude and habits, you can excel wherever you are planted. Position yourself to soar. Believe in yourself, trust God, do your best and enjoy the journey while you spread your wings and fly.
This piece was written and contributed by our PAJE Writer! Remember to show your support by liking, sharing and commenting!
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Thank you Gianna-solid advice. Love it!
This is very interesting and informative, well done.
Thank you for the advice