Welcome to Lexington High School! Explore over 100 clubs, try out for a bunch of our sports teams, and enroll in a million different electives. Need help? Talk to any of the 1,800 sophomores, juniors, or seniors, or reach out to your counselor, teachers, advisors, or any adult on the premises.
When I was a freshman, this onslaught of information was the gist of every answer I received to the question, “How do I survive high school?” It made the entire journey seem like a minefield of difficult decisions. What clubs do I want to commit to for the next four years? Which kid in my world history class will be my new best friend? Knowing what decisions to make with an overwhelming amount of resources available was difficult.
Hence, this guide aims to provide you with eight universally applicable social tips I have accrued over the past four years. Hopefully, some of these ideas will get you thinking and make your freshman year awesome.
- Not everyone’s idea of an amazing social life is the same. Everyone enjoys different company. Your happiness can come with five friends or 50. You don’t have to decide what you want your friend circle to look like based on what others think.
- Middle school is over. It’s common for middle school friend groups to phase out in high school. As you and your friends acclimate, it can be hard to find time to hang out or even find common ground. But you shouldn’t worry: there are over 600 potential friends available. Don’t be afraid to reach out to others.
- Balance and time management are also your friends. Starting new friendships can mean increased social commitment, causing a lot of high schoolers to neglect their classwork. A great way to balance schoolwork and friends is to find study partners. I recommend only doing this if there is a presentation or test to study for, as it’s easy to get distracted by friends when doing independent assignments.
- Try new things. By far the easiest way to make friends at LHS is to explore clubs, organizations, or athletics. Joining a club can provide you with a group of people who share similar interests. Pay attention at the LHS Activities Fair — you can get a feel for some of the student organizations and understand what you want to commit to. Most clubs and activities consist of people spanning multiple grades, which gives you more people to ask for advice as a bonus.
- Be okay with saying (and receiving) no’s. On the heels of trying new things, it’s always important for your safety and emotional well-being to be able to say “no.” Think about the long-term consequences of your decisions and weigh the pros and cons before committing to anything. It’s okay to let go of friendships if it means you don’t sacrifice your own morals — there are so many other people you can find.
- Find a trustworthy confidant. You are not expected to go through high school alone, and it’s helpful to find someone to run ideas and emotions by. This could be a close friend, parent, trusted adult, counselor, or therapist. The most important thing is to make sure that this person has your best interests at heart and that you feel comfortable in their company.
- Don’t overcompensate. Friendships last long if you act authentically. It isn’t worth it if you have to change your beliefs to maintain a friendship. Neither is it rewarding for the other person if you place too much responsibility on them to do the same. Make sure you strike your ideal balance with your friends and reach a consensus.
- And lastly, save time for yourself. I’ve found this to be particularly important, especially as work and external pressures get more demanding. You can’t expect to be at full power, all hours of the day. Find something you enjoy doing alone to recharge and maintain your grades, relationships, and peace of mind.
Ultimately, freshman year is a series of trials and errors. Don’t expect yourself to find “your people” within the first week or even the first month of school. Taking it day by day and prioritizing your happiness is the best policy.
