School does not have to become a prison. It doesn't matter if you tend to find it difficult, boring, or just plain stressful - you can learn how to turn it into an easier and much more fun experience. Learn some concrete strategies to simplify your life at school, make new friends, and enjoy the time you spend in the classroom.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Making New Friends
Step 1. Find a group
In some cases, going to school can be a lot of fun. Whether you like music, wrestling or horses, finding other guys to talk to and befriend them is very important. Remember that a friend is someone who shares an interest with you.
- Break time is the perfect time to make new friends. If you see someone who seems nice to you, approach them and say hello. Talking to classmates is one of the best ways to find new friends.
- Avoid worrying about your popularity or only dating the hottest guys. Try to be with people you like and avoid those you don't like.
- Also try to find a best friend, someone who really understands you.
Step 2. Join an after school club
Another great way to make new friends is to join an association or group at your school. For example, you can join the journalism club, the theater club or the music club. Consider the options your school offers and consider joining a group that aligns with your hobbies.
- If none of the clubs interests you, you can create one yourself. For example, you could propose one dedicated to video games or collectible card games. Once you have identified the ideal group for you and have established how it can be useful for your school, you will need to convince a teacher to promote it, otherwise you will have to create it yourself with some friends.
- Try joining an association even if you don't care, so you can meet people you wouldn't normally know. Even if you're not a great singer, try joining the school choir. Use this opportunity to socialize and make new friends.
Step 3. Try a team sport
Some schools organize sports clubs that compete in school leagues and allow you to befriend your peers. Many first-time students will be like you, so all teams will be almost at the same level. Soccer, athletics, basketball and volleyball can make school more fun.
- If you don't feel like playing a sport, still consider attending games and cheering on the school team with friends. In many cases, admission is free, and those events are great for making new acquaintances.
- Sports are not suitable for everyone and, in some cases, students place too much emphasis on sports. Sport can be the ideal way to learn new skills, find friends and have fun, but it can also be an unnecessary source of stress. It is not recommended to engage in activities that cause you stress, only those that you enjoy.
Step 4. Try to be looser
When you are made fun of, you can take the joke personally and feel offended, or you can laugh and start thinking about a stinging retort. One of the ways to find new friends is to show your less serious side when you are in school by learning to be more casual. School doesn't have to be your prison; on the contrary, it can become a place of great fun. Expect to have moments of leisure, to laugh and to make new friends.
Young people have a tendency to befriend people who seem funny, not people who are always serious or angry. If you want to make new friends, you should keep a casual attitude and look comfortable
Part 2 of 3: Keep having fun
Step 1. Find the charge every day
You can decide to wake up every morning with a bad attitude and spend only bad days at school or put on some cheerful music, have a breakfast of champions and make the school day epic. If you decide to have fun, you will most likely succeed.
- Choose a song that puts you in a good mood when you wake up and listen to it every morning before going to school. You can also set it as your phone or alarm clock, so you hear a song that energizes you and makes you feel happy first thing in the morning. Forget the annoying sound of the traditional alarm clock.
- Try to have a good breakfast every day so that you have the energy to face the day. Eat mostly healthy fruit and wholemeal bread, avoiding sugary and excessively processed foods, such as cereals with added sugars and snacks. For example, you could eat an apple.
Step 2. Personalize the items you use at school
If it makes you happier and makes you feel more comfortable in the classroom, try decorating your backpack, ring binder, diary, locker and school supplies. Use stickers, glitter pens, your favorite band logo or other decorations to make the items you bring to school more fun.
Step 3. Wear clothes that make you feel good
Fashions come and go, so it's hard to give you advice on what are considered the trendiest outfits of the moment. However, enjoying school doesn't necessarily mean wearing the latest and greatest designer clothes. Wear clothes that you feel comfortable in, that allow you to have fun and move as you would like.
If it helps, decide what to wear for school before bed so that in the morning you have everything you need clean and ready to wear. Learn to do laundry yourself so you don't have to wonder if your favorite shirt is clean
Step 4. From time to time, daydream
It is useless to deny it: in some cases the school is boring. You will have to listen to some lessons that seem endless and spend hours waiting for the bell. However, you can use your imagination to make those moments more fun!
Imagine that school is a role-playing game that you are in control of or a story that you are both the author and the protagonist of. Imagine that you are a secret agent, sent to school to monitor the activities of the young people of the city. Find a way to make boredom more interesting
Part 3 of 3: Making School Easier
Step 1. Get organized
One of the most stressful and frustrating aspects of school is making sure you have everything you need. Where are the Italian homework? Where is the science report? Is the pencil sharp? By putting aside worries about these little things, you will be able to focus more and enjoy school. Get ready for the lessons and everything will become easier.
- Get a good ring binder to keep your notes and homework organized. Put all important documents inside as soon as you receive them and always keep them in order, so that unnecessary materials do not accumulate. If you see a lot of old tasks in your notebook, throw them away.
- Always update your diary with the tasks you are assigned. This way, you will never be taken by surprise. Check often when you need to turn in your homework, so you never get left behind.
Step 2. Treat your teachers well
Professors are like students: some are great, some are not. However, they are always in charge of the class, so even when you feel frustrated or bored, you should treat them kindly and they will likely reciprocate. This way, your relationship will be much easier.
- You may think that chatting with peers while the teacher talks can make the lessons more fun, but in the end you would suffer even more from the stress and boredom from bad grades and punishment.
- If you have a "reputation" at school as being the clown of the class or a brat, it will be more difficult for you to have a good relationship with your teachers; however, you can still be able to change. Wait for the lesson to finish and explain to the teacher that you are trying to improve. Ask him what you can do to be more careful in class and avoid getting into trouble. This way, you will make a positive impression.
Step 3. Plan your time better
Homework will feel like a less overwhelming burden if you have time to finish them completely. Eliminate the worries and stress that come with school duties by taking care of them now and finishing them early, instead of waiting for the last minute. Wouldn't the mornings before school become much less stressful if you didn't have to rush to finish your work? Wouldn't school days be a lot more fun if you didn't have to worry about getting a bad grade?
Imagine you have a month to complete an important project. You can postpone it until the last day or you can dedicate 30 minutes to that activity every day. This way, you won't waste a lot of time and avoid the stress of working six hours straight at the last minute
Step 4. Get help if you are having trouble with your homework
When you are having a hard time in school, don't try to solve all your problems yourself. Simplify your life. Ask for help at school, perhaps by joining a study group or taking private lessons.
- Ask for help from parents or older siblings. Since they've probably covered the same subjects, they'll be able to help you out. Use your family as a resource to improve in school.
- Ask your teacher if you can stay 10-15 minutes after class to ask him some homework questions, if you are too embarrassed and don't want to do it during class. It is always better to ask for clarification, instead of being left with doubts.
Step 5. Consider if you should move on to a more demanding school
If you feel bored and uninspired in class or get bad grades and have a rebellious attitude, the lessons may not be stimulating enough. School could be more fun if it offered you more interesting and challenging subjects, suited to your passions. Explore the options available in your area and consider moving to another institution, otherwise find out if you can skip a year.
- Private schools can be expensive, but you may be eligible for a scholarship or public grant. You may not know this until you inquire about the options available in your area.
- If your parents aren't willing to explore all options with you, talk to your school counselor or teacher you have a good relationship with. Explain how you feel and ask for help.
Step 6. Avoid distractions
You may think that hiding an iPod under your sweater is the best way to have fun at school, but you risk getting in trouble and being left behind because you won't pay attention. You probably won't believe it, but the best way to enjoy the lessons is to listen more carefully instead of finding distractions.
It may sound silly, but pretend that there is a fundamental piece of information hidden in the math problem your teacher describes. Imagine learning not only multiplications, but complicated formulas for building robots. Use your imagination and find ways to stay focused
Advice
- If you can, surround yourself with studious people because they will help you stay focused by their example.
- Find a routine, a balance and follow that path; do what feels most natural to you.
- Avoid studying only at the last minute before an assignment or question, regardless of the importance of the test. Start preparing at least two weeks in advance.
- When trying to figure out which school association you should join, think about which one interests you the most because you will have to make a serious commitment. Also, ask school administrators how long association meetings last and ask your parents if you can stay in school after class.
- It will help you to be at least a little competitive.
- Make new friends by talking to peers about something they like or giving them simple compliments. For example, you can make an appreciation on your desk mate's shirt.
- Be nice at school every day.
- Ask the math or science teacher what those subjects will serve you in life. For example, you can use fractions to change the ingredients of a recipe. Understanding how to use certain skills in everyday life will help you find the motivation to memorize that information better.
- Some friends are nice enough to give you treats from time to time. Befriend generous people!
- Remember: even if you don't like a lesson, you always have something to learn.
Warnings
- Always be very careful of people who try to hurt you or manipulate you for personal purposes. If you feel like someone is trying to influence you, it is advisable to tell the truth to an adult you trust.
- You can get in serious trouble if you decide to decorate your backpack, purse or other items without parental permission, so always ask for permission first. Backpacks can be very expensive.
- Avoid using terms that can be considered offensive or that can put you in a bad light. This way, you'll avoid getting into trouble and won't risk a suspension or worse.
