Back To School Advice #1: How To Build A Reputation

The back-to-school season is upon us, which can be an exciting yet intimidating time especially for the students who are just moving into a new, daunting level in their scholastic path. Have no fear! For you are not alone, most people have gone through this, and most (like myself) have survived long enough to provide youngsters like you with advice. So here’s some advice to get all new students to build a good reputation for themselves from day one.

1- Get to know your teachers. Building strong relationships with your teachers is quite important. Not only will you need them for recommendation letters in the future, but it’s helpful to have an adult who can serve as a guide and assist you with any questions you may have. You can learn a great deal if you take the time to ask them questions (be they about their course or not) and truly listen to their answers. Another advantage is that having a good relationship with a teacher allows you a slight immunity to penalization based on minor mistakes on your exams, which is pretty helpful for all students who have high hopes for their report cards but just can’t seem to get rid of that one miscalculation or misread.

2- Being outgoing. With all the exams and studying, many of us forget that high school is also a place for many social conquests. Putting yourself out there is a great way to defuse stress and create healthy friendships with your fellow school-goers.

Ways to be outgoing are:

Look approachable! This is attained by maintaining a positive aura. Try to keep a smile on your face, compliment people (Make sure they target the right things and aren’t just generic), and, above all, be nice. This will push people to talk to you since you’d be radiating positive vibes.

• Project confidence. I know it’s hard sometimes since we all have insecurities but once you remember that we all are struggling with how to carry ourselves in front of others and that we will be judged regardless, your self-confidence will boost. Fake it until you make it.
• Find compatible targets: your classmates who you already sit next to, people in the same club as you, or people who seem quiet. Some people may look like they’re not interested but they may just be shy or private and it will make them happy that someone is putting an effort in talking to them. Everyone could use a new friend, you can never have too many.

I do realize that for some people it may be hard to be outgoing so my best advice for that is to befriend someone who is. Someone who loves talking and won’t mind your silence. Eventually their extrovertedness will rub off on you!! You can also join school clubs. Clubs are an excellent way to meet new people you have a lot in common with.

3- Don’t care what people think about you and don’t take yourself too seriously. No one does that. If you have a school spirit day and you’re supposed to wear a color, wear that color! Everywhere, from head to toe. But more importantly, if you choose not to, don’t mock those who do because they’re having fun and are enjoying high school which sucks pretty bad if you don’t just get into it. You’re not too cool for this stuff. YOU AREN’T TOO OLD FOR THIS! You will one day have to act like an adult but for now, while you’re still young and filled with energy: Be an idiot. Scream really loudly at pep rallies because that’s what it’s for. I would have never played a bear in my school play and danced like an idiot on stage in my freshman year but I eventually realized I shouldn’t give a crap about what people think and did both of these this past year. Embrace your weirdness and free your spirit: most people judge you because they are struggling with their inner weirdo and are too afraid to accept themselves with all their quirks. Hence their sometimes judging eyes and murmurs ignore all and carry on with your head high.

 

 

4- Don’t be afraid of the upperclassmen. Ignore the stereotypes that movies and books depict because they’re false. Upperclassmen and freshmen have more in common than you might think, especially with the seniors, as they are soon to be entering a new even more intimidating part of their lives. Furthermore, rarely do interactions occur between the two. Trust me; they too are struggling just as much as you are with the weight of their future laid upon them.

5- Making good choices. High Schoolers have more freedom than middle schoolers and what students do with that freedom will affect their reputation. Peer pressure is often a problem with younger teens due to the want to fit in. Refuse anything you don’t want to do (that you believe is harmful or non-beneficial) and if they judge you then you’ll be better off without them as friends. It is important for you to make good choices throughout high school so you can be successful later on in your life and in order to minimize the regrets later on.

I really hope you enjoyed this post! If you have any more questions about anything, definitely let me know in the comments or on my twitter and/or Instagram.

-QueenTxti