Q&A for How to Survive High School

Not necessarily. It may be a bit of a challenge to get used to your new school, teachers, and the classmates, but you should acclimate after a few weeks. So long as you are willing to work hard, it shouldn't be super difficult.

Stay organized and establish good habits early. What you do your first year of high school will set the tone for the rest of your time there, so don't slack off early on! Make sure you get plenty of sleep, too. Too many students show up tired and it really impacts their schoolwork.

The first day of school is almost always orientation, so you probably don't need all of your text books and stuff. Just bring a notebook, something to write with, and a phone charger in case your phone runs out of juice. Beyond that, it's totally a matter of preference.

A lot of times you'll find that you naturally make friends when you get into activities like athletics, band, or theater.

Senior slump can affect even the most dedicated students. To avoid falling prey to it, try keeping a calendar that you can use to track the days until graduation. Remind yourself that, if you let your grades slip at the very end, you may lose college scholarships or, in extreme cases, fail to graduate.

Anorexia nervosa is a common problem among high school students, especially young women. Signs of the disorder may include, among other things, massive weight loss, social isolationism, compulsive behavior, depression, brittle nails, and dry hair or skin. If you or a friend is struggling with anorexia, call the National Eating Disorder Hotline for help.

Ask a teacher how you can contact your school’s mental health counselor, then reach out and make an appointment. During your session, the counselor will help you assess whatever problems you’re dealing with and figure out ways to solve them.

In some ways, yes: you'll have multiple classes a day like you did in middle school, your school will probably have clubs and extracurriculars just like middle school, and you'll be expected to be more independent from your parents than you used to be. In other ways, it's different: your high school will often be bigger, teachers will expect you to manage your time and schoolwork more effectively (and to ask for help if you're struggling with something), dynamics with friends and dating will change and might become more complex, and you'll usually have more options when it comes to classes, clubs, and extracurriculars. Think of middle school like a stepping stone to high school - it's there to teach you the foundations of the schedule and skills needed in high school, so there will be some similarities, but it's not going to be exactly the same.

Make sure you get 9-10 hours of sleep every night so you’re well-rested, and eat a healthy breakfast in the morning. During class, make sure everything is put away except for the materials you’ll need during that particular class. If you don’t sit near the front, you can also ask your teacher if you can sit closer, since being closer to the teacher may also help you pay attention.