Summer is over and it's time to start thinking about going back to school. For some, it is a time full of expectations. However, for others it can be very stressful. To make sure the first day goes smoothly, there are several tricks. Usually, officially it is good to start preparing in the last two weeks of vacation, even if you have to take advantage of the whole summer to get into the perspective of the new school year. Buying the right school supplies, getting enough rest and cultivating your personality are all strategies that will ensure a successful return.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Preparing for the Summer
Step 1. Try to keep busy during the summer
In general, those who tend to hate the first days of school spend a good part of the summer indoors and relaxing. Sure, summer holidays are a recreational occasion and it's normal to let yourself go a little, but you should also try to keep yourself active and busy during those months. There are several ways this can be done:
- A summer job is ideal for keeping you busy. Not only will it allow you to maintain a certain routine and have a worthwhile experience, it will also allow you to pocket some money. Having some savings will help you experience an even more beautiful summer.
- Playing sports is a fun way to spend the long summer days, among other things it allows you to get back in shape.
Step 2. Keep learning in the summer
The people who hate going back to school the most are those who don't acquire new knowledge in the summer months. Learning doesn't have to be a bore. You can find out about any topic of your interest: contemporary films, history or avant-garde cinema. The important thing is to keep the brain active: when you have to go back to school, you will have a considerable advantage.
If you are a dedicated student, you want to get good grades, and you know what subjects you will have, you could do some research on the subjects of study. That way, before the teachers talk about it, you will already know something about it
Step 3. Hang out with those friends who will go to the same school as you
Often enrollment depends on one's housing situation, even if factors such as personal interests come into play for high school. If you and your friends live in the same area or want to pursue a similar study path, you will probably go to the same school. Try to cultivate stronger bonds with these people. Spend a part of your summer with them and get to know them better. The first day is always a little anxious, but having a support group will make it easier.
Step 4. Buy everything you need
To prepare for the first day of school, one of the most important things to do is make sure you have everything you need. The specific tools depend on the subjects. A student of the art high school will need many more things than one of the classical high school. Make a generic list, the rest will have to wait for the first week of class, as the teachers themselves will give you a more exhaustive list. Certain products, such as pens and notebooks, will serve you for virtually all subjects, so you can stock them up for the entire school year. Here are some things that will almost certainly come in handy on day one:
- A backpack with comfortable shoulder straps;
- A solid binder in which to put lined paper;
- Pens (red and black) and HB pencils;
- A ring notebook for each subject;
- A pair of scissors;
- A scientific calculator and a squared notebook, if you are going to do math;
- A small bottle of hand sanitizer gel;
- A USB stick to save your work to your computer.
Part 2 of 3: Getting Ready the Night Before
Step 1. Determine how you will go to school
Finding a reliable means of transport is necessary. It is essential not to have doubts about how to get to school on the first day: the situation is already stressful on its own, you certainly don't want to have problems for this reason. You will likely use one of the following means:
- If you live close enough, you can always walk there. It's also a good way to exercise and get some fresh air before the day begins. If you are feeling anxious, walking will relieve stress.
- You can ask your parents to accompany you. They may not always be able to do this, but a quick ride in the car will make the day even easier.
- Some schools offer a bus service. Taking it will take you directly to your destination, among other things you could make friends along the way.
- If you already have a driver's license, you can try carpooling: sharing a car with other people is an ecological method and is safer than constantly relying on your parents. If you are not driving, you can propose to your family and those of your companions to use this method in turn.
Step 2. Clean your room the night before
Once school starts again, you won't have much time for tasks like this. Clean up - that way, when you get home, you'll have a clean, relaxing space all to yourself.
Step 3. Choose your clothes and hang them next to the bed
If you especially want to make a good impression, preparing a match for the first day of school can be nerve-wracking to say the least. Luckily, you should have enough time the day before to choose clothes. Grab your favorite items and carefully hang them out of the closet. This way, you won't have to hastily decide what to wear.
- The choices in terms of clothing depend solely on your tastes and your personality. Ideally, you should wear casual, comfortable, and clean clothes.
- If you haven't done so already, try to wash the clothes you will be wearing on the first day of school in advance.
- If you have to wear a uniform, you can still express your personality with accessories. Sewing buttons or other decorations can make it more original. Just make sure you don't break the rules by changing it too much.
Step 4. Try to get at least eight hours of sleep a night
You have probably heard this advice thousands of times. Most people need five or six hours, but you need eight hours to get fit in the morning, especially if you want to make a good impression. Getting enough sleep is even more important if you are under 16. In the growth phase, the body needs more time to rest.
- If you've often been in the wee hours during the summer, you should start restoring proper sleep hygiene in the week before returning to school. It will be much easier to adjust to the new routine.
- If you have trouble falling asleep, stay away from lighted screens and electronic devices. Try reading a book instead. At some point, sleep will come naturally to you.
Part 3 of 3: Coping with Day One
Step 1. Get up early
If you got enough sleep the night before, that shouldn't be a problem at all. Set the alarm for about an hour to get ready. Drink a glass of cool water. After eight hours of sleep, your body needs to be hydrated, so drinking fresh water will give you a boost of energy to get you off on the right foot.
Step 2. Prepare for the school day
Take a nice long shower. Make sure you are clean and looking neat. Once out of the shower, he puts on the clothes chosen the night before. If you decide to change the combination at the last minute, you can open the drawers and try something new. Keep an eye on the clock, though: you need to have enough time to have breakfast, without risking being late on the first day.
If you have skin blemishes, fix it in advance by buying a good toner and cream. Applying these products for at least a week should alleviate the problem
Step 3. Have a full, nutritious breakfast
A rich and healthy first meal should not be underestimated, as it can be a determining factor for the progress of the day. Eat fruits and vegetables - they will give you energy. Sugary cereals are fine, as long as they're just part of the breakfast.
If you are feeling sleepy, coffee can help you. But make sure you don't drink too much: an overdose of caffeine causes anxiety and headaches
Step 4. Get to school at least 15 minutes early
The thought of being late can ruin your day early in the morning. To make sure that doesn't happen, try to get to school at least 15 minutes before the bell rings. This will give you time to find the classroom and may even have an interesting conversation with a new classmate.
Step 5. Make sure you are prepared for each lesson
After you find the classroom, go inside and sit down. Take everything you need out of your backpack. If you have no other information about it, a notebook and a pen should suffice for now. While you wait for the lesson to begin, you can take the opportunity to get to know your desk neighbors. They probably feel anxious too, so coming forward can break the ice and be beneficial to everyone.
Step 6. Join the class
Ask questions. Be active and interested. On the first day of school, the most important mission to complete is to make a good impression to facilitate your future. This also means establishing good relationships with teachers and classmates, asking questions when you have them, and making helpful notes.
Keep all the papers given to you by teachers in a binder. Over the course of the year they will undoubtedly come in handy for studying or revising. Order them so you can find them easily, so you'll save yourself the embarrassment of having to ask for them again
Step 7. Open yourself up to the possibility of making new friends
Technically, everyone goes there to learn, but school is also a great place to broaden your circle of acquaintances. Friendships born between school desks could remain such for life. Day one is the perfect time to meet people, so walk into the classroom with a big smile and don't be afraid to break the ice with your classmates.
If you suffer from social anxiety, being especially brave on the first day and making new friends is a good way to overcome shyness. You will soon realize that many companions could become your friends, so you just have to step forward and get to know them, otherwise you risk missing several opportunities
Step 8. Consider the activities you would like to do in the afternoon
Sometimes they are organized by the schools themselves, so you might want to keep an eye on the bulletin boards. If you don't have this option, evaluate your interests and try an external afternoon course. You will surely find something interesting. Do you like music? Sing in a choir or sign up for a guitar class. Do you like the cinema of Akira Kurosawa and Lars von Trier? You can join a cinema club. It's a great way to cultivate interests you already have, but it's also a perfect outlet for meeting people on the same page as you.
If you are very interested in a business but cannot find a course, you can start an association yourself
Step 9. Try to have fun
You may feel like you have too much information to digest at one time, but you should remember that the first day should be a good experience first and foremost. You will meet people that you will spend a good part of the year with, so it is absolutely important to try to be comfortable with them. Learn to defeat your anxieties and remember to wear your best smile throughout the day.
Step 10. Once home, unplug
After the first day of school, nothing is better than finally returning home. It will seem oddly longer than on other days, especially since you will receive several new stimuli and meet many people at once. Reward yourself. Lie back on the sofa and watch your favorite movie. Better yet, invite a new friend to spend the afternoon together. Relax and feel at peace with yourself: you have started on the right foot and it will be a wonderful year.
Advice
- Introduce yourself to all your teachers. Cultivating solid relationships with professors will make your lessons easier, especially if you have problems with a certain subject.
- If the worries don't go away, you should try talking to a parent or other trusted person. It will certainly cheer you up at least a little.
