Middle school is a big step in any child's life. You left the world of elementary school to enter the world of middle school, where you will be respected more, you will have more homework and more duties. Some parts will be fun, others scary. Try to get the most out of these three years. Middle school can be difficult, so if you don't know what to do to get through this period, read on!
Steps
Part 1 of 5: Avoiding Trouble
Step 1. Learn the rules of your school
You don't want to get in trouble with the teachers or the principal in your first year for breaking rules you didn't know. Make sure you learn the dress code and all other rules, then follow them! Antagonizing teachers or looking like a troublemaker will only complicate things for you.
Step 2. Pay no attention to gossip
This is the most important piece of advice for avoiding problems in middle school. There will be a lot of gossip and many people will speak ill of others. Ignore the rumors, even those about you and if someone tells you something or asks you a question about a rumor, tell them to ignore it and not help spread it. Voices break friendships, create enemies, hurt feelings, and make things worse for everyone.
- Some voices can be so malicious that they lead people to self-harm. You don't want to become part of this problem, do you? Help stop the rumors and save lives by defending your peers.
- Even if you know a piece of information is true, if it's something private about someone or sensitive information, you shouldn't give it away. You don't want someone to tell all your secrets, do you?
Step 3. Choose friendships wisely
Is very important. Befriend people who don't make a scene and don't participate in it and you'll avoid the worst things that happen in middle school. Every group has a few problems, but if it feels like your life might be the story of a Disney Channel show, you might want to consider finding a calmer group of friends.
Step 4. Don't let your friends get you in trouble
Following the previous advice, you shouldn't have friends who can get you in serious trouble. If someone asks you to lie about something important, do something illegal, or do something to hurt another person, don't do it. Do not nothing that does not make you feel comfortable or that you think is wrong. This influence is called peer pressure and can lead to many problems.
Don't be afraid to tell an adult that someone has asked you to do something wrong. This doesn't make you a spy - you'll be a good person who did the right thing. If you make a bad decision, talk to an adult you can trust. Talking to friends is the fastest way to start a rumor
Step 5. Do not do anything that will harm your body
Just as you don't want to do something that could hurt another person, you shouldn't do anything that could hurt you. Don't take drugs, don't play choke, and don't do self-harm like cutting yourself. If you need help, there will always be people who can help you.
Step 6. Don't worry about romantic relationships
Now that you are in middle school, you are starting to feel more mature and you may want a boy or a girl. No doubt you will have some big crushes! But relationships are difficult, stressful, and often cause more problems than they solve. You may enjoy your crushes and maybe flirt a little, but try to stay single and focus on having fun, friends and learning.
Step 7. Don't worry about the gym
Everyone does it. You have probably heard that you will have to change in front of other boys or girls or maybe you have never been good at sports and feel embarrassed. You will need to remember that everyone is worried and embarrassed, so you are not alone.
- You may think that everyone is looking at you while you change, but in reality they will be changing as well. Nobody will look at you, because they will be too busy thinking YOU can look at them. Everyone wants to change as fast as possible!
- If you are a girl and worried about your period and need to change, wear black or brown underwear. Nobody will notice it.
Step 8. Learn to solve problems
This is a very important skill, not just for getting through middle school but for dealing with life in general. If you learn good ways to solve problems, you will be able to handle everything that comes your way.
- For example, you should learn to ask for help when you need it. In some cases you will feel foolish to ask for help or you will not want to admit that you have problems, but you don't have to. Everyone has problems, and everyone you ask for help will understand. They too will have had to ask for help in life.
- Apologize and accept the consequences when you've done something wrong. Refusing to acknowledge when you've done something wrong, even if unwittingly, will only complicate things for you. You will either feel guilty or face people's anger, and you should avoid that. If you spread a rumor, apologize. If you lie to a teacher, apologize.
- Communicate clearly if you want to avoid a lot of trouble. In many cases, rumors arise because someone misinterprets what you said or you misinterpret it. You could also offend someone by accidentally saying something you don't think. Pay attention and be clear, making sure you know what you are saying.
Step 9. Remember that things will get better
Remember: we're not trying to paint middle school as the worst thing that's going to happen to you, in fact it could be a very fun time. But we're not even going to tell you it's all going to be as wonderful as it is on TV shows. It can be really tough. Remember that there will be happy times and sad times, but however bad it may go, things will get better.
Part 2 of 5: Make friends
Step 1. Find the people you know
This will give you a base of friends to start with. You can ask your elementary school friends where they will go to school the following year, and get their phone number to meet you at the new school.
Step 2. Find people who live near you
Once you have started school, you can try to make friends with people who travel the same way on public transport as you. Having friends who live in your neighborhood can be helpful, as it will be easier to hang out with and there will be someone close by you can call for help or advice.
Step 3. Be open to new friends
Even if many of your elementary school friends are in the same middle school as you, you should still try to make new friends. If you don't try to meet new people, you won't know what you're missing. Maybe you could meet your new best friend.
Step 4. Join a club
A great way to meet new friends is to take additional courses offered by the school. Most schools offer a few courses and some many! You can always start a club if you don't find anything you are passionate about. There could be courses in reading, cinema, religion, theater, ecology, robotics or photography (these are just a few examples).
- Don't forget the sports! If you want to join a team there are many team sports that you can try, or you could try your hand at an individual sport.
- Volunteering is also a kind of club that will help you meet new friends. Your school may organize volunteer groups to raise money for events, create tickets for seniors or people at the hospital, clean up local parks, or other cool activities.
Step 5. Prove your interests
You should show what you are passionate about, in a discreet way, so that people who appreciate the same things will come and talk to you. This is a great way to make new friends because you'll know you have something in common.
For example, if you like Adventure Time, you can wear a Princess Bubblegum pin on your backpack. If you like video games, get a binder with a picture of your favorite game. If you are a fan of a team, wear a bracelet in those colors
Step 6. Behave safely
If you show people that you think you are a good friend, and that you think you have a lot to offer, you will entice them to become your friend. Don't always apologize and don't give up if people don't like you right away. Stand up for your rights, stand tall and celebrate the things that make you unique.
Step 7. Talk to people
This is the most important thing to do to find new friends! Engage in conversations with interesting interventions and introduce yourself to the people you think might become your friends.
Don't forget to speak out loud so people can hear you
Step 8. Do fun things
If other people see you having fun, they will want to join you and be your friends so they can have fun too. You can do fun things like join a club, draw between classes, or throw parties or other after-school activities.
Step 9. Be nice
If you want people to be friends with you, it's important to be a nice person. Who wants to be friends with a rude? Nobody! Be good to everyone you meet, even if they aren't to you. People will see that you are a beautiful person and will be nice to you.
- It's important to go out of your way to be kind, and not just be polite. Help people who have problems in the classroom, stand up for those who are bullied, and do nice things for people whenever you want. Also give honest compliments when people need them!
- You never know when a person is having a hard time. He could feel terrible and not show it. Your kind words or actions could make a big difference.
- Remember that in some cases, when people are really annoying, they do it because they don't feel good about themselves or because something is happening in their private life. They are bad because they don't know what kindness is! Try to be nice to even those who are mean to you. You could help these people improve.
Part 3 of 5: Doing Well in School
Step 1. Be careful in class
If you want to do well in school, the best way to start is to pay attention! It's amazing how much your grades can grow if you pay attention and absorb as much information as possible from the lessons. Don't play with your phone, don't daydream, don't exchange tickets with friends. You'll have time for fun later!
Step 2. Take notes
. You don't have to write down everything the teacher says - just write down the things that are important or hard to remember. Write down the things you know you should say if you were to explain the lesson to someone who was not present. This will help you study for homework and homework.
Step 3. Do your homework
This is very important for getting good grades. If you don't do your homework, you will almost certainly get bad grades, even if you do your homework well. Find a time to relax each night and work on your homework. Get help if you need! Homework shouldn't take so long that you don't have time to relax.
Step 4. Plan well
Don't throw everything in your backpack at random. If you did, you would forget your homework or lose important papers. Instead, use a homework binder and sort it according to the lessons you have. Use another ring binder notebook, sorted by subject.
Consider using a journal. With this tool you can organize tasks and your private life! Write the day's commitments in your diary. Set aside time for homework, outings with friends, morning prep and breakfast, and everything else you need to do in the day
Step 5. Don't procrastinate
Many people develop a nasty habit of putting off. This means they don't do things when they should. Instead, they always wait for the last minute! This is not the right attitude, because it means that when you do things, you will not do them well because you will be in a hurry. Postponing also leads to the build-up of stress. Develop the good habit of doing things at the right time and you'll save yourself a lot of trouble.
Step 6. Ask questions
This is a great way to improve your grades. When you don't understand something, ask! This way you will know if what you have understood is right. Even if you think you understand, it's a good idea to ask questions if you're curious. Always ask questions and you will get smarter and smarter.
Step 7. Study as much as possible
If you want to get top marks, you will have to study. Read all the textbooks assigned to you and spend a lot of time studying Middle school is an important time to develop good school habits, so getting used to studying now will be very useful in the future.
Step 8. Don't let grades stress you out
Don't worry about taking all 10. Focus on learning as much as possible, developing a good study method, and getting the best grades possible. No university will ever look at your middle school grades, nor will any employer. You shouldn't settle for a 6-, but you shouldn't worry if you take a 7.
Part 4 of 5: Improve yourself
Step 1. Explore yourself
Middle school is a great time to try out the things you like and figure out what's important to you. You should participate in extracurricular activities that you think you might enjoy, learn how to do the things you've always wanted to be able to do, and read about topics you'd like to cover in the future.
- Read books about the people who inspire you. Find out what they have done to get where they have come and understand if you want to follow in their footsteps.
- Clubs are great opportunities to explore activities that can make you happy! Try joining one organized by your school.
- Even on the internet you can explore to find the things you like, especially if you are a little nerd! It will be much easier to find people with the same interests as you. Be careful though, because as in the real world, the internet is full of bad guys.
Step 2. Develop good hygiene habits
Make sure you wash your body, keep your face clean, wear clean clothes, and do all the other things to look after yourself. This will help you develop confidence and make you feel more confident about your body, even as it is changing.
Step 3. Learn to balance responsibility with fun
While it's important to take the time to learn in middle school, it's also important to learn how to balance responsibilities with fun and relaxation. You will go crazy if you spend too much time studying, but you will have a lot of difficulties in life if you don't learn to become responsible.
Step 4. Join a community
You may not understand this now, but helping other people can be the most rewarding thing you can do. Making a positive difference in your community and in the world can make you feel like a superhero, because in fact you would be! Volunteer, help people in need and find out how you can improve the world around you.
Step 5. Exercise and eat a healthy diet
School prepares the mind, but you will need to make sure that your body is also healthy. Try to eat right and get plenty of physical activity to stay fit. Being healthy now means being able to aspire to a life of good habits!
Step 6. Work on your talents
If you are good at something, you should find ways to do what you can do! Get better and better at the things you like and do well. Your talents can often be turned into a job or hobby as you get older. Talk to your parents about what you can do and if they can't help you, talk to a teacher.
For example, if you are good at drawing, take an art class. If you are good at music, join the band. If you are good at math, offer lessons to other students. The possibilities are endless
Step 7. Don't worry about the little things
You will be much happier and it will be much easier to deal with the problems and stress of middle school if you learn to care only about the things that really matter. It can be difficult to do and will probably take some time to learn, but keep this tip in mind.
- For example, don't worry about losing a game, feeling left out, people accusing you, or other guys making fun of you.
- Instead, worry about injustices, current events and the world around you. These are the things that matter that you should always worry about: if you don't, you won't do anything to change them, and if everyone thought this way, the problems would never be solved.
Step 8. Remember that you are a normal person
There will be many occasions when you will feel different and alone. You may be afraid because you will find that you have a crush on the "wrong" person. You may think that no one understands you because you like "wrong" things. You may feel left out because you and your parents don't look like any of the other families. But it is very important to understand that however lonely you may feel, however "wrong" or strange you may feel, there are many people like you. One day you will meet them and find friends and family you never thought you had… and you will be the happiest person in the world.
- For example, you might notice that while all the other girls giggle about guys, you don't like it. You may want an intimate relationship with another girl. This shouldn't make you feel wrong, because it doesn't. Give time to time and don't tackle things too quickly. You can't know what life will be like in a few months or a few years.
- You may think you are weird because your family doesn't look alike and they don't talk like everyone else. Maybe your parents don't speak Italian. Maybe you have two fathers. Maybe your dad is black and your mom is Asian. The important thing to understand is that there are families of all kinds, and all that matters is the love that binds you. You are like everyone else. Regardless of how your family looks.
Part 5 of 5: Middle School Survival Skills
Step 1. Get used to dealing with your period if you are a girl
This can make you feel very embarrassed and nervous, but it doesn't have to be. All girls have the same problem. Get ready and you will have nothing to worry about.
Step 2. Learn to hide erections if you are a boy
Almost all kids will have to deal with this problem sooner or later. Don't worry: this is completely normal! Learn to solve the problem and you will have nothing to worry about.
Step 3. Work on your coordination
Many awkward moments in middle school are due to falls, trips, or collisions with other people at the worst times. Work on coordination and pay attention to your surroundings, to avoid falling from the stands during a general meeting.
Step 4. Dress well
You're probably worried, because your school has a dress code to follow, but you still want to look your best and be yourself. You can do it! With a little creativity, you won't have a problem.
Step 5. Get a good bra if you are a girl
Girls will need bras, and that can scare them. Don't worry: this is completely normal! Don't be ashamed to ask mom or dad for help and go to a store to find the right size.
Step 6. Take care of your body
Nobody wants to stink! Since you are going through puberty, your body will produce more sweat and smell. Don't worry: this is completely normal! With a little effort, you can stay clean and ready for the day.
Step 7. Don't get embarrassed by pimples
As you grow up, you will likely have to deal with embarrassing pimples. This is normal, but there is no reason why you shouldn't do anything to avoid it. With a little help, you can keep your skin clean and beautiful.
Step 8. Stop bullying in the bud
You don't want to be a bully, be a victim, or let someone else become a victim. Find the courage to stop the bullies and make the school better for everyone!
Step 9. Learn a good study method
This will be very important, not just in junior high but for the rest of your teaching career. Learning to study now will help you get better grades throughout your life.
Step 10. Learn to open your locker
Many middle school students have a hard time opening their locker if they have one. Combination locks are not easy to use, even for adults. Learn how to use one, and things will get a lot easier.
Advice
- Watch out for drugs in middle school. You can suffer from health problems because of them. Remember who your friends are and that life is worth living!
- Make sure you get good grades. Learning is the number one priority and everything you learn will be useful to you in life.
- You may be walking away from your best friend. You may lose it and feel lonely, but it's not serious. Let some time pass and you will get better.
- Be yourself! Don't act too fake.
- Make sure you have good friends. They will help you and make the middle school experience more fun.
- If someone is misbehaving towards you or your friends, stand up for them, but don't get in trouble.
- Try not to get in trouble. You can have fun from time to time, but don't overdo it.
- Remember, all the other guys are just as nervous as you are, and the nervousness will pass after the first week. If you are sure of yourself, everything will be fine.
- Make sure you have the money for lunch! If your parents don't give you money to eat, try talking to a teacher you trust. It will probably help you and not tell your friends. There is no reason to be ashamed.
- To get to school, plan the route with less traffic, so as not to be late.
Warnings
- If you see a friend being bullied, don't stand by. Stand up for it or talk to a teacher or other adult. What a friend would you be if you left friends in time of need!
- Don't cheat on your homework.
- Talk to an adult when you see an illegal activity. If someone punches you, talk to an adult. You may not feel comfortable doing this, but don't worry about your popularity when your safety is in jeopardy.
- You will meet bad people, like bullies. Try to ignore them and they will do the same to you. If a bully harasses you all the time, talk to an adult or teacher.
- Middle school can be the hardest time in some people's life. If you feel like you can't move on and indulge in self-harming thoughts, ask for help.
- Don't fight with schoolmates. Don't argue with teachers. Play only when you can.
