Hey freshmen, welcome to Emerson. Here are some tips to help you thrive in your first year of high school!
Develop a Good Study Schedule
Most students will take more challenging courses in high school than in middle school. Because of this, it is crucial to build good study habits, starting with making a study schedule that works for you. First, evaluate whether you are a morning or night person. Most morning people will find it easier to finish school work earlier and vice versa. Finding out what time of day you work best is crucial to finishing school work more efficiently to make time for extracurricular activities.
Join Extracurricular Activities
A few extracurricular activities that interest you are crucial to becoming a well-rounded student and building relationships. Finding activities you are passionate about can also help you decide what career you want to pursue. If you are still deciding what extracurricular activities to pursue, join a club here at Emerson! Emerson has a wide variety of clubs with a multitude of pathways that they encourage. For example, HOSA is a medical club that encourages students to participate in various medical competitions, DECA allows students to explore careers related to business, finance, and hospitality, and the Newspaper club allows students to write articles for the Emerson High School Newspaper.
Develop Good Note-Taking Skills
If developed, note-taking skills can be a valuable tool to help students complete assignments, study for tests, and prepare for end-of-the-year exams such as AP tests. To develop note-taking skills, first determine if handwritten or typed notes are better for you. While typed notes tend to be more efficient, handwritten notes often help students develop a better understanding of the material. Next, determine what information from the slideshows or lectures is essential and only include that information in your notes. Lastly, if you are a visual learner, consider color coding your notes to help better retain information.
Get Organized
Keeping track of your assignments and test dates can sometimes be difficult as a high school student. Because of this, it is important to stay organized using a physical planner or a digital calendar and a to-do list. Doing this will ensure you don’t turn in assignments late or forget about a test.
Prioritize your sleep
Many high school students will get in the habit of sleeping for only a few hours due to the workload that comes with certain high school classes. In order to avoid the feeling of fatigue and sleepiness in school and throughout the day, make a habit of prioritizing your sleep. You can do this by setting an alarm every night to remind yourself to go to sleep. Reducing your screen time throughout the day can also help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep for longer periods of time.
Build Relationships with Different People
Getting out of your comfort zone and making friends with different people can expose you to other cultures, experiences, and environments. Building good relationships early in high school can significantly improve your experience and lead to lifelong friendships.
Practice Good Time Management Skills
Having good time management is key to balancing your school work, extracurriculars, and social life in high school. Having a good study schedule and set times for extracurricular activities can help you tremendously practice good time management skills. Additionally, limiting the distractions you have when studying can help you finish your work on time. This will leave more time to focus on extracurricular activities and social life.
Last but not least, remember to be first, be bold, and be curious!
