Credit: Bella Schreiber

WSPN’s Bella Schreiber shares her top tips to having a successful year in school.

Whether you’re a senior ready to finish up your high school career or a freshman anxious to step into a new school, the start of the school year can be very bittersweet, and difficult too. While some love learning and can’t wait to jump into each new unit, it is completely normal to feel uneasy as the year begins to unravel. Even for those who love school, the workload and drama can build up quickly and feel overwhelming at times. As you settle into this next year, it’s important to keep a few things in mind.

Keep your work in organized folders and binders. One organization system will work for everyone, but in order to succeed, it’s necessary to have some sort of system in place. Whether you’re trying to figure out a tricky homework assignment or studying for a final, having your papers in order can benefit you greatly. Never underestimate the power of knowing where all of your past tests and worksheets are.

The school year can be extremely stressful for some, and it’s important to prioritize your mental health. Make plans to rest, socialize and have downtime when you’re not worrying about homework or tests. As silly as it sounds, you won’t be able to work and perform to the best of your abilities if you’re burnt out. The only way to prevent burnout is by allowing yourself time away from school and work each day.

As painful as it is to say, consider putting a time limit on your electronics each day. Whether you can’t help but mindlessly scroll on TikTok or you are constantly on the phone with friends, everyone could benefit from a little less screen time. If using a phone or watching a show helps ease your mind then go for it, but it’s important to keep in mind how often you are using technology as an escape. At the moment it might help, but it almost always catches up to us when we don’t use our time well.

Join a club or extracurricular! Wayland High School offers activities for a variety of interests. Whether you like sports, debate, sewing, or anything else, there is an option for you. If there isn’t a club or team at Wayland, there will always be something in the area, or you could try something new. Participation in extracurricular activities tends to improve mental health as well as teach socialization skills.

Don’t ever pass up an opportunity at a good night of sleep. We’ve all been there: it’s past midnight, you still have homework to do along with a test to study for and you don’t know what to do. The answer is sleep. While doing this one night a year might not be awful, lack of sleep will catch up to you and impact your grades. No matter how much you study, if you don’t get proper sleep, it won’t matter. Not only your grades, but lack of sleep can lead to poor mental and physical health, mood swings and an overall bad quality of life.

While it can be daunting at first, teachers are there to help. If you have a question or don’t understand something, ask about it! If you’re not willing to put yourself out there and ask for help, no one will know you need it. At WHS, we are fortunate enough to have teachers willing to help, peer tutors and an academic center where you can always go for help. If starting with your teacher is too much, try asking a friend, upperclassmen or another teacher you trust. There is no harm in asking for help.

As the school year begins to pick up, keep in mind that everyone is going through similar things. Reach out to your peers and don’t be afraid when you struggle; it’s all part of the process. Good luck this year!

to freshmen year by Annabella Schreiber