It is said that high school is either the best or worst four years of your life.  

   That all depends on exactly how you handle it. When you think of high school, what do you think of? Do you think of sports, friends, and parties? Do you think of the workload, stress, and the pressure of finding yourself?  

  Perhaps you think of a combination of both. Looking back on my freshman year, now being a sophomore, I have realized that it really is a big change from middle school. The social and academic aspects are both very different.  

   My high school journey only started last year, but I already know that with the right friends and mindset, it turned out way better than I thought it would. High school has the power to either make or break your teenage years. That is why I have some advice for the freshmen this year:

• Work hard.  Put forth all the effort on that assignment even though you think it won’t matter.  It will help you in the long run.

• Get involved.  There is something for everyone in high school, whether it’s sports, arts, or a new club.  Maybe if you end up going to that interest meeting you weren’t sure about going to, you’ll end up finding your passion; you never know.

• It’s so important to meet new people.  The more you get involved, the more people you will meet who share common interests with you.

• One last tip: work hard, occupy yourself, make good choices, take risks, don’t dwell on the little things, and most of all, have fun.  If you follow all these tips, you will have a great high school experience.