Freshman year
The start of high school is often anxiety inducing for many students. A new school, far more students roaming the halls, and new teachers with a more demanding workload and higher expectations can be a bit overwhelming. So, it’s good to go in with a plan and some goals – knowing that the plan will likely need some adjusting once the student becomes a little more accustomed to their new surroundings.
Start by asking your student to try and envision where they see themselves at the end of the next four years.
Help them set some goals that will put them on the right track to being where they want to be at the end of high school.
General Freshman Year Goals
Up the study skills. High school typically brings with it more homework and long term projects. Developing stringy study habits as well as planning skills will go a long way in determining success.
Take challenging classes. Colleges want to see that students challenged themselves while in high school. But know your strengths and take the courses that will best prepare you for the AP courses you want to take in later years.
Get involved. Find some activities (clubs, sports, music, theatre….) that you enjoy or maybe something new that intrigues you. Start building your resume early.
Find your people. Getting involved will help you find other students with similar interests but it’s also important to maintain strong relationships with your teachers. Teachers who know you and know how hard you work are more likely to help when you’re stuck and need some assistance. Not to mention, you may need them to write a letter of recommendation at some point down the line.
Begin the process of discovering your passion(s). It’s rare that a 9th grader will know what they want to do for the rest of their life. High school should be a time to explore your passions and to discover new ones.
Enjoy yourself. Much of freshman year is spent trying to figure things out and get acclimated to a new climate. Instead of stressing about all the changes, be excited about all the new challenges ahead of you.
Best of luck!