Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Before you go to school
• Method 2 of 2: The first day
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

Don't worry too much about your freshman year in high school. Just remember that it's something everyone just has to go through and you really don't have to worry too much about it. Try to see it this way: you just passed the easiest test that took you 6 years to complete. The test before you now takes 4, 5 or 6 years and is just a bit more difficult. That way you will probably feel a little better! So now that you don't worry too much anymore, let's get to work!

To step

Method 1 of 2: Before you go to school

1. Make sure you have everything you need. Things you will need include the clothes you are going to wear to school, school supplies and whatever else you may need. If you don't have everything you need, you probably won't perform as well. Don't forget to check everything at home first and check everything on the list!
2. Refresh your wardrobe. Going to high school can be a great excuse to update your wardrobe! To begin with, clean up your wardrobe. Give away clothes that no longer fit. Bag and throw away any clothes that are torn, dirty, or broken. This gives you more space for the new clothes you are going to buy. Going shopping alone can be tricky. So ask if someone is coming with you to help you! It is best to ask someone who is in high school or who attended secondary school recently. Such a person knows how things are going there. Just ask your parents if they are okay with him or her going with you.
3. Buy school supplies. Buying school supplies is a bit more difficult than buying clothes. To make sure you have everything you need, copy the supplies list from your school's website or download a good list with all the supplies you might need. You can save a lot of money by going to a cheap store such as the Hema, the Zeeman, or another cheap chain. Either way, the most important thing is that you will find everything you need, such as pencils, pens, erasers, binders, highlighters, etc.
4. Make the most of the open day. Take a good look around you on the open day (if no guided tour is given). Listen carefully to the principal of the school and to the teachers who will teach you. This will give you an idea of ​​what they expect from you, the character and rules of each teacher and the way they would like you to work.

Method 2 of 2: The first day

1. Prepare your outfit the night before. You shouldn't be rushing early in the morning just because it took you half an hour to figure out what to wear! Choose something that is a bit between normal and original. Keep in mind that you are going to make first impressions and that the clothes you wear partly determine your character, so don't stray too much from the kind of clothes you feel comfortable in.
2. Don't feel obliged to wear makeup. Expectations about this are often overestimated. You just graduated from grade school, so there is absolutely no need to wear makeup or do anything cool with your hair. If you don't feel comfortable with that, then don't! All those high school girls you see in magazines are just wearing makeup for the ads. Not wearing make-up on your first day of school is a bold gesture in itself, because it shows that you are confident and don't need make-up to attract attention!
3. Take a shower first thing in the morning. Taking a shower in the morning will wake you up, smell fresh and feel your best. (Don't forget to use a nice deodorant to top it off.)
4. Only bring the things you need. You do not have to carry all of your possessions with you to school. On your first day of school, you really don't need more than your most important school supplies such as pen and paper, and a few snacks for breaks. Bringing some extra pencils and food can be useful, but it is not absolutely necessary.
5. Get help from people who are already in high school. People of the upper classes don't bite! If you dare, try to make friends with a few people older than you, because they've already done your year and might be able to give you some tips.
6. Try to make some friends while you wait for the school to open. Try to chat with another newbie who is also waiting alone. If you can't find anyone alone to befriend, find a map of the school and try to explore. After all, you are supposed to spend a few years of your life there.

Tips

• Everyone is just as nervous as you! You're really not alone. Try to make some friends to chat with so you don't have to stand alone. Be yourself. If you act like someone you are not, people will get the wrong impression of you.
• Start your homework on time (preferably as soon as you receive it) and always hand in assignments and papers on time.
• Make sure your fellow students / teachers don't have to get annoyed by you.
• Be yourself. Only by being yourself will you make good friends.
• Make sure you have an extra outfit with you (for when you fall outside, mess during your lunch hour, or in the worst case, throw up).
• Always attend information meetings or ask your parents to go for you.
• Make sure you know your way to your classrooms and to the lockers; that way you don't get into trouble at the busiest times, you get everywhere on time and you save time.
• Often times, changes occur in your body during the first year of high school. Be prepared for surprises.
• Do not wear skirts or pants that are too short. Chances are, you'll have to bend over at some point during the day.
• Ask any questions you have about the school in advance to a mentor, counselor or someone else in high position at the school (if it is possible to make an appointment with such a person). This is a very useful way to learn more about school affairs, dress codes, or other helpful information.

Warnings

• Always think twice before saying or making a decision.
• Students in upper grades can be mean, and so can sixth graders. Be careful not to let older children boss you around.

Necessities

• Pencils (HB)
• Crayons
• Sharpener (one you can hold in your hand with a space to catch the sharps)
• A great eraser
• Ballpoint pens (buy a pair of red ballpoint pens as well, as some teachers have students check each other's work)
• Highlighters
• School notebooks with or without spiral
• Loose sheets of paper to write on (teachers are sometimes very critical when it comes to paper; in some high schools, students have to use the school's paper)
• Ruler with English and metric system
• Tools to store your belongings
• 3-ring binders (some teachers will ask you to use a specific folder for his or her lesson)
• 3-hole punch (a regular one or one that fits in a 3-ring binder)
• A pouch that fits in a ring binder
• Tabs for your binder (tabs with an opening are useful for loose leaves)
• Insert folders
• Folders that fit in ring binders
• A small notebook to write down assignments
• An agenda to schedule homework and assignments
• A sturdy backpack that offers good support (some schools do not allow wheeled backpacks due to space, so if you are considering purchasing a backpack with wheels, check with your school first)
• Two combination locks (if the lockers at school don't have built-in locks, you may need one for the hallway and one for the gym)
• Study aids
• Index cards, with and without lines (such cards are very suitable for making memory cards)
• Highlighters
• Calculator (Check with your math teacher before purchasing an expensive calculator. For example, many schools require a graphing calculator for math lessons. Teachers recommend that parents do not buy a calculator with more features than students need.)
• Protractor (some students will need one, sometimes even in first grade)
• Pritt marker
• Small stapler
• Scissors
• Water-based markers
• Necessities at home to work on the PC
• Print paper (A4)
• Agenda / planner

For gymnastics:

• Deodorant
• Gym clothes (wash every week!)
• A so-called shower for on the road (water with liquid soap in a spray bottle; change this every two days)
• Towel
• Wet wipes
• Body lotion
• Hair bands and / or rubber bands (optional)