Now You Know

By Ahren Lahvis and Luke Bolton | Illustrations by Luke Bolton

September 6, 2013

The move to high school is one of the most difficult transitions a student can make. Freshman year at Grant High School brings a lot of new things for students: a bigger building; larger class sizes; more diversity; and new faces all around, from teachers to administrators and other staff.

Experts say freshmen and their parents should prepare themselves. “It’s normal for people to feel nervous,” says Andrew Riley, a clinical psychologist at Oregon Health and Science University.

“Everybody is feeling awkward about it,” he says. “People are approaching the unknown all the time and it’s natural to feel anxious. Embrace that. Approach that thing that makes you apprehensive, and you will be successful.”

Riley says it’s important to experiment, figure out exactly what works for you and then stick with it. “Get into new activities and new routines,” he says. “Start engaging yourself. The sooner you do that the more comfortable you will feel.”

When you enter high school, make sure to leave your routines and activities from middle school behind. Quickly develop a routine and you will be free from the stress and nervousness that accompanies the transition.

Here are some helpful tips to a successful freshman year.

1. Best places to go to lunch when you’re on a tight budget

Being located in the Hollywood neighborhood, students at Grant have many options for having off-campus lunch. But that can be spendy. Where are your best bets to get a tasty meal at cheap prices?

My Canh Restaurant 1901 N.E. 39th Ave.

Walking time: 6-8 minutes

Best item: Takeout box of vegetarian fried rice for $2. Or try two egg rolls for $1. They also have bubble tea for $3.50 if you’re looking for something refreshing.

Perks: My Canh prepares for Grant students each day, so the food is hot and you don’t have to wait to be served.

Blind Onion Pizza 3345 N.E. Broadway

Walking time: 7-10 minutes

Best item: They offer students one slice of cheese pizza and one small soda for $3.75. You can buy the same deal with pepperoni for $4.

Perks: This year, for the first time ever, Blind Onion will have a “Chef’s Special” that includes a slice of two-topping pizza and a small soda for $4.25.

2. What to do if your grades aren’t good

At the first sign of a decline in your grades, be proactive! Don’t hesitate to talk to your teachers. Have a one-on-one conversation. Explain that you want to improve your grades and ask how to do that. Freshman biology teacher Walt Hollands emphasizes talking to teachers outside of class, not in class. Most importantly, Hollands says: “If you’re having trouble, you should take a look at your time management.”

If your teachers and counselor can’t help, it probably has something to do with the way you manage your time. Planners are a great tool to help you remember your assignments. You may also want to re-evaluate your studying habits.

Also, in most if not all of your community classes, there are senior mentors who are willing and able to help you out. They are great resources to talk to when things go wrong, and that’s their job.

3. So what do I do during free periods?

Use your free periods and tutorials wisely. If you can complete all of your work during a free period, you will be happier when you get home with no homework and the opportunity to study or relax.

There are lots of tables in the library for you to spread out your work. Computers are available to use for research, too.

It can get noisy in the library and loud students can be a distraction. If you prefer a smaller environment, the College and Career Center directly across the hall is a great place to finish your work. It is usually quiet and has computers available.

Madeline Kokes, the room’s coordinator, is extremely helpful with anything you need assistance on, whether it has to do with college or not. “You don’t have to be a senior to start using the CCC’s resources,” she says. “If you’re a freshman, it’s a good place to do productive work during your free period. It’s never too early to start thinking about careers and colleges. The sooner freshmen start thinking about their interests, the better.”

4. Dive into Grant’s social culture

High school can present a lot of new opportunities for students that middle school did not. Make sure to seize opportunities and go outside your comfort zone. Even if you believe it isn’t worth your time, get involved. Go to athletic events – like football, soccer or basketball games. Attend a dance. Join one of the school’s many clubs. The range is huge – from law to religion, from board games to nature, from sports to volunteering, Grant truly has it all. Try to be open-minded to all the rich opportunities. You will surely find a niche somewhere.

5. The hallway is a highway

During passing periods and lunch, the hallways are bustling with traffic. Often, they are filled with excruciatingly slow walkers and hordes of people standing by their lockers making travel difficult. Try to keep moving so you don’t hold up people on their way to class. On rainy days, the hallway is a great place to eat. But stay clear of high traffic areas like center hall. The same goes for hanging out in the halls. Socializing is part of the high school experience, but make sure to stay out of the way.

6. Don’t procrastinate. . .ever

Procrastination is your enemy. Try to complete your homework soon after it is assigned to you. That way, you won’t forget about it until it is too late. Michael Williams, a Modern World History teacher at Grant, says: “When you procrastinate, you make an unpleasant task even more unpleasant.”

Typically, the reason for avoiding an assignment is because it seems daunting. If you procrastinate, you will likely have to stay up late and finish things at the last minute. You will be tired and unable to function in school the next day.

If you stay on top of your assignments, you will have a considerably less stressful freshman year.

7. Get to know your counselor

It’s important to create a solid relationship with your counselor from the beginning of high school. Your counselor will be the person helping you through your journey and he or she will eventually be writing your college recommendations.

Counselors can help you along your path through school by guiding you as you decide what classes to take. They track you to make sure you meet your graduation requirements. They can also give you valuable advice to make sure you can be as successful as possible.

And just as important, they are good listeners and are trained to help in the event of a crisis. Try to check in with them regularly.

8. Why do I have to take P.E.?

When it comes to P.E. (or as it’s known to adults – physical education), attendance is key. You may think it is an easy class that you don’t even need to show up to, but you’ll soon find your presence has the biggest correlation to your grade.

Take it seriously and follow the rules. Show up on time and dress down. The P.E. teachers expect you to be in uniform and it’s kind of hard to participate in the activities in skirts, jeans or dresses.

And keep in mind that nearly one of every five teens has problems with childhood obesity. That means a lot of people are at risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. P.E. can help you stay fit.

In the end, you may find out that playing games with friends and getting physical will help you concentrate in other classes because of the exercise. Don’t be worried about P.E., but don’t disregard its importance.

9. Bullying: Be on the lookout

When it comes to high school bullying, it very rarely is anything like it is perceived in the movies. Don’t be afraid of cliques in the Grant community. There are no cafeteria tables for the “jocks” or the “nerds.” It’s not too hard to find friends.

But be wary of the use of social media. It’s easy to fall into the habit of checking Facebook or Twitter for the latest gossip or about who is hooking up with whom. And what you’ll find is that sometimes those posts can turn quickly into negative comments about people at school. Don’t get pulled in.

Generally, it’s a good rule of thumb to make sure you treat others the way you would like to be treated.

If you run into a problem where you are feeling bullied, talk to a teacher or an adult staff member to let them know. It’s important that everyone at Grant feels safe.

10. Be yourself

Freshman year, it is very easy for get wrapped up in new crowds of people and be coaxed into things you are not necessarily interested in. It is important to follow your heart and not let others alter your interests.

Blaze your own trail. Don’t let friends or others control your choices. Peer pressure is rarely a good thing. Do what works for you and follow your passions. ♦