Michael Mercedes Reyes, Incoming Senior

Dear Incoming Freshmen, 

Welcome to the world of High School! You will shortly realize self-control and time management is huge. High school can be such a fun time but remember, it is also a learning experience and academics still need to come first. I want to share with you some things I learned the hard way so you don’t have to experience the same. 

First of all, go to class! This is the best advice I can give. Our classes are like college courses. Our teachers, like college professors, give lectures and every day is generally a practice day. You will only learn what you need to learn by showing up and participating. The material online or wherever else will not be useful to you. Go To Class!

Secondly, when something is due do not wait until the night before to start working on it. Start as soon as you can. You find yourself much more relaxed and happy when you’re not rushing to get something done. Plus getting homework done in advance is always a good feeling. 

Third on the list, remember to get some sleep. Now that you are in High School, it is very important for you to go to bed. You need to take some responsibility to get a good night of rest, especially before an exam. 

Fourth, take advantage of the AP Classroom found on College Board and other learning strategies. Yes, you will be taking AP courses. A lot of them. Not only can the AP Classroom resources help you prepare for  AP and Final Exams, but also on unit assignments. They will provide you with a lot of practice and unit videos explaining specific skills and providing examples. USE THEM! 

Fifth, control your time management. You will really be able to separate your wants and needs after you organize yourself. This part really struck me. I never realized how much time I would spend on things that were not necessary or needed while ignoring things that did matter. 

Sixth, have fun! Make the most of your freshman year. There are always events going on around the school. Attend them. Some of the friends I have made will be my friends for the rest of my life. 

Lastly, the only other advice I can give is to use your teachers. They are the best resource. They are getting paid to educate you. When you have questions do not be afraid to ask.