Orienting Yourself With the School
Write down anything that you have questions about regarding your school. Most high schools have orientation sessions the week before school starts that introduce new students to the school. Before you attend the orientation, you want to make sure that you know what you have questions about so you can ask them at your orientation if necessary. For instance, you could have questions about how long the break is between classes, or if you need to bring in your summer reading books on the first day.
Attend orientation. Even if your high school is in the same building as your middle school was in, it's still incredibly valuable to go to the orientation so you have a better idea of what to expect the first day. Make sure that the orientation addresses all the questions you may have. If you still have questions when the orientation is over, you can talk to the teacher or counselor leading the orientation. If you don't want to ask in front of the group, you can talk to them separately. If your school does not hold an orientation, tell your parents that you have questions about the first day. They will help you to find a phone number or email address of someone in the school you can contact to get these questions answered.
Talk to people during your orientation. If you are in the same school system as your middle school, you will already know a lot of your fellow classmates. Talk with friends, and even try to talk to new people that you have just met. Starting to expand your social circle will make high school a lot easier. If you are new to your school district, try to talk to at least a couple of people. You can also try to figure out who else is new and talk to them! Ask your classmates what they did over the summer, and how they feel to be starting high school. Many of them are probably feeling just as nervous as you!
Make sure you know where your classes and your locker are. You have probably already received a schedule with your classes listed and the classrooms they're in. Make sure that either during the orientation or sometime in the week before school starts you look around the high school and figure out where your classes take place and where your locker is. You can even make notes on your schedule next to your classes, saying things like, “Room 113, first floor across from the wood shop.”
Talk to someone who has already gone through high school. Talk to someone who already went through their freshman year at your school. This could be an older sibling, a friend's sibling, or someone like the child of a family friend. If you can, try and talk to a girl, because it will relate more to your experience of being a girl starting high school. Ask them any questions that you have. You can also ask them what the best and worst part of starting high school was for them, and how high school was different than what they expected before they started. Ask them what advice they have for someone starting at your high school. Their advice can be valuable since they've already gone through freshman year! Their answers can give you valuable information about what to expect, which is a huge part of feeling less nervous on the first day.
Talk to your friends about your worries about the first day. Your friends are probably feeling nervous too! Just talking about your anxieties about the first day can relieve some of the stress of starting high school. If you and your friends are all feeling nervous, you can agree to be by each others' side and help each other through the first day. You can try to meet up with your friends, or you can call them on the phone to talk and make plans. If you don't know anyone that is going to your high school, talk with your parents or your friends. Even though they are not starting high school with you, they probably know exactly what you are feeling and can offer advice about the first day.
Getting Yourself Ready for the First Day
Coordinate plans with your friends. If you are attending high school in the same school district as your middle school, you will already have some friends. Talk with your friends before the first day and make plans to eat together. Also find out if your friends are in your classes. It will give you peace of mind to know that you have people in your classes that you can sit with and socialize with. If you are starting a new school, you may not have friends that you can make plans with in advance. Know that there are going to be other new girls in your grade, and that they probably will be looking for people to sit with too!
Plan your outfit. Planning that first day of school outfit can be a big part of preparing. You will want to pick out an outfit that is stylish, but also feels like you. Just because you are starting high school doesn't mean that you have to dress differently or older than you usually do. Stick to a classic outfit over the latest trend. You may not know how people dress at your school, so it's better to play it safe. Try not to underdress or overdress. You shouldn't wear sweats and a T-shirt on the first day. You also shouldn't wear heels and a cocktail dress. Make sure that your outfit is a happy medium of the two, so that you look put-together but not like you are going to a night club. If your school has a uniform, focus on your hair and makeup and your accessories. This is how you can individualize your look.
Pack your backpack. The night before you start your first day of high school, put all of your new supplies in your backpack. If you are bringing your own lunch as opposed to buying it, consider preparing it the night before and putting it in the fridge overnight. This will give you time to perfect your look in the morning and make you less stressed out about getting to school on time.
Go to bed early. You want to be rested on your first day. Being tired could make you even more anxious. Try to get to bed a little early, just in case you have trouble sleeping. Plan to sleep for at least eight hours on the night before the first day of high school.
Have a good breakfast. Make sure that you have a healthy and hearty breakfast before your first day. Even if you are feeling nervous and aren't very hungry, getting something in your system will make you feel a little better and will give you the energy you need. Try eating foods like scrambled eggs or oatmeal. They will give you the lasting energy that you will need for your first day!
Give yourself enough time to get to school. Whether you are catching the bus or getting a ride, make sure that you leave a little early and give yourself enough time. Nothing is more disorienting than being late, and you don't want to add to your anxiety about the first day. You can try setting your alarm 10 or 15 minutes before you had planned if you are worried that you won't have enough time.
Having a Successful Day at School
Find your locker. Your locker is like your home base. If you even feel overwhelmed or need a break, it can be nice to have a space that's your own. Once you get to school, drop off your books at your locker and make sure that you have everything that you need for your day.
Try to sit by your friends in classes and at lunch. Hopefully you and your friends have made plans to stick by each other on the first day. Find a way to touch base with them when you get to school, either by text or in person. Having people to sit with can make you feel a lot less nervous. If you don't know anyone at your new school, try to figure out who the new students are and sit with them. They will be as eager to make new friends as you are! You can also sit next to anyone who seems friendly and nice. In every school there are people who go out of their way to talk to the new students and make them feel welcome.
Try to strike up a few conversations with classmates you don't know. It's great if you already have friends, but creating other ties with people you will be seeing every day will make you feel a lot more comfortable about being in spaces like your classes, or in the cafeteria. Ask your classmates what they did over the summer. This is a great way to break the ice! Compliment other girls on their clothing. This is also a great way to start a conversation with other girls, and they will appreciate the compliment. If talking to other classmates would make you too nervous, set a goal for yourself to talk to at least one new person. Even making one small connection can make you feel more confident.
Sign up for activities or clubs. Joining activities, clubs or teams that you're interested in will help you feel that you have a place at your school. They are also great opportunities to meet new people and develop your interests.
Give yourself time to breathe. The first day of school is always overwhelming! If you find yourself becoming overwhelmed or anxious, take a bathroom break or break during lunch to be by yourself. High schools are usually crowded, but there should be an empty classroom or two that you can go in to regroup. After the summer, being around so many people can add to your anxiety about the first day. This is why it's beneficial to know that you can always take a break if you need it. Don't take too long of a break. Just take a few minutes to breathe and collect your thoughts, about as long as a normal bathroom break would be.
Remember that everyone is probably just as nervous as you. The first day of high school is probably one of the most stressful days of any young adult's life. Don't judge yourself for being nervous, because chances are that everyone around you probably feels the same way.
Fake it till you make it. Even if you are feeling incredibly nervous, put on a smile and a brave face. Smiling can actually make you feel happier and more relaxed. The confidence that you are putting out there may be an act in the beginning, but you may start to actually feel more relaxed and in control. Try to be the kind of person you'd want to meet on your first day. Although important, try to focus less on your own feelings and more on getting familiar with your new school and meeting and talking to your classmates, which will be the most important thing on your first day.
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