Work really hard for a good GPA. Freshman GPA sets the bar for whether you are free to slack off in the later years or not.

At the end of the chapter, actually read over the questions they have to review what you learn. I started doing that really late, but it really helps.

Joining a club is an easy way to make friends.

Most of the drama that occurs literally becomes irrelevant after graduation so dont stress it.

high schooler freshmen-

1) don't get involved in relationship drama. keep that **** for like, grade 11 and beyond, it's too early for that stuff
2) don't skip class. there's, like, a 50/50 chance of you getting caught vs you not getting caught. too risky and not worth it most of the time
3) focus on your grades/marks
4) join a club that truly interests you
5) try making some friends. if you can't— don't sweat it.
6) be positive
7) don't pull stupid ****… it will do nothing but hurt you and only you in the long term.
7a) which brings me to my next point. don't do **** that you KNOW will hurt someone else. you will face repercussions and it won't be pretty.
8) homework… hmm, homework isn't too much a big deal oftentimes. if you miss an assignment and homework makes up a small bit of your overall average grade/mark, don't sweat it. but don't make it a habit; missing homework all the time won't be good for you
9) being scared is natural and okay. don't (metaphorically and literally) shoot yourself over it.
10) focus on getting through puberty.
11) don't hurt yourself. please, do not hurt yourself.
12) be good

I know that you will have a great year

take your classes and grades seriously.
join clubs and be involved in school activities.
try not to slack off and don't skip classes do that senior year
make good friends, but also watch out for yourself

Also, take school seriously! Think of High School as preparation for college! Not just educationally, but it's also gonna teach you how to make friends, and develop good work ethic. So don't slack in either department!

Gosh fresh year of high school - so YOUNG! Gosh there is so much I could say.

My main regret is not using this time as an excuse to try new things. Like instruments, sports. Like just try EVERYTHING - cause honestly once you leave high school you suddenly have zero opportunities and have to pay for EVERYTHING yourself. Plus when you're 18, and starting from scratch alongside people who already have years of experience, you're screwed.

Also no matter what skill or interest you have - learn a language. I repeat: LEARN A LANGUAGE. And a useful one too. Spanish / Mandarin / French / Portugese. You'll never ever regret it.

Focus on your grades and don't **** your GPA up with drugs/bad friends! That was me sophomore/junior year.

High school is a joke. Get good grades but no amount of extra effort you put in will pay off and there's no assignment worth crying about/feeling bad about/staying up all night for provided you won't fail the class because of it.

College ain't a joke and extra effort pays off. Professors have free reign over the grades they give so make use of this fact.

Oh, high school? People act like high school can make you or break you and what you do there will stay with you for the rest of your life. Really, it's just a precursor to college. Always do your work so you can get into the school you want and don't get involved in any regrettable mess, but have fun! I missed out on so much fun I could have had back then because I was so overwhelmed by dumb stuff and insecure. Make strong friendships that can last beyond high school, but also don't rely on friendships you make there. Don't be afraid to drop a bitch you don't want in your life anymore. Make sure you take at least one high-level class and do some extracurricular activity, but also don't overwhelm yourself with clubs, sports, and honors classes. Most of that crap ends up not mattering much. Meet good people you can safely experience "firsts" with so you're not feeling super inexperienced and out of your element in college. Good luck!