As summer comes to an end and your high school journey begins, you are probably scared and uncertain of what the next four years have in store for you. Trust me, I don’t blame you. Change is scary, but we’ve all been there and it’s not as scary as it’s made out to be.

Take some time to learn how to navigate the school. Finding the quickest route to your classes will help you avoid being late, which will help you avoid tardies. If you get three tardies at any point during the semester, you’ll receive a detention. The best way to get to class on time is to avoid the butterfly hallway, which is infamous for traffic jams and to walk quickly on the right side of the hallway.

Work hard and don’t procrastinate. Your freshman year GPA is the foundation for the rest of high school and while it may seem easier to just put off your assignments, it will definitely pay off to stay on top of all of your work. Eventually, you will run out of time to procrastinate. Just do your work when it’s assigned and save yourself time later. You’ll feel a lot better in the end.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help, that’s what your teachers are there for. There is always someone who can help you, whether you’re worried about a class or if you just need to talk to someone. If you need something, reach out. Your teachers, counselors and administrators are here to help you if you need it.

Try new things. This year is full of more opportunities than you can imagine and freshman year is definitely the prime time to put yourself out there, so try out for a sport. Go to the meeting for that club you’re interested in. Try out for a part in the play or apply to work backstage on a production crew. Go to the football games and to the school dances. In a few years, when you’ve left the halls of FHN, you’ll have great memories to look back on to remind you of your time in high school.

And as they all say: It’ll be over before you know it. Spend your time well, and you’ll be sure to enjoy it.