20 Things Seniors Wish They Knew As Freshmen

From adjusting to a demanding schedule to figuring out how to get involved, school life is a whole new world. We get it. That’s why we asked the class of 2015 to help out with those who are confused and in need of advice. From seniors to you, here are top 20 tips and advice that we wish we knew as freshmen. Hopefully they will enlighten, help, and push you one step further in your high school journey – and save you from doing things that you might regret. Above all, here are the three crucial ‘words of wisdom’ to keep in mind:

Sleep is a good thing.
Trust us when we say this: sleep while you can. Maintaining good grades and a rigorous schedule gets increasingly difficult with each passing year, and time management is crucial; thus, sleep becomes a precious luxury. Getting enough “Z”s also helps you retain more information, have a healthier lifestyle, promote better moods, and optimally help you perform more effectively in school – and in life. So skip out on those all-nighters if you can. Do your future self a favor, seriously!

Find an organization that you absolutely love and stick with it.
Whether you’ve heard this advice from parents or alumni, joining a club and getting involved with an extracurricular activity is extremely beneficial for you. Not only will these activities show commitment and leadership to colleges, but they will also help to shape your interests, develop your character, provide invaluable experiences, make new friends, and turn out to be really fun!

Work hard. Play hard.
These four years will pass by in a blink of an eye, and as cliché as it sounds, make every moment count. Take chances, create memories, and make good decisions! And when necessary, take a break and relax; your health and well-being are the main priorities after all. If you are too stressed, take a walk or give yourself a treat. In the end, remember that you are in school for a reason: to learn and grow as individuals. As the saying goes: work hard, play hard. Your efforts will go a long way and it’s all worth it in the end when you’re wearing that graduation gown and holding your diploma.

In addition are other personal words from fellow seniors:

Brunch costs less than lunch. – Amy Wong

Junior year isn’t even close to being as hard as senior year so buckle up, you’re in for a ride. – Jeff Lee

Be true to yourself. Don’t get involved in [personal] drama or do things you know you’ll regret. Popularity isn’t happiness. – Faith Nguyen

Don’t sell your soul to the numbers; the goal is to leave in a graduation gown with a smile… – Justin Kim

Put away all your distractions and really focus on your work, as it will lead to more sleep and better grades. – Sarah Susanto

Although we have all heard this saying, it can pertain to high-schoolers and kindergarteners alike. Treat others the way you would want to be treated. Have empathy. Put yourself in the shoes of those you hate as well as in the shoes of those you love. – Joey Wang

I wish I would have known about looking into college earlier because high school went by too fast and senior year can be really stressful if you don’t have an idea of what it is you want to do. – Kimberley Herrejon

I wish I had known that I would get tired of the “variety” of school lunches. – Michelle Wong

I wish I knew that getting to know your teachers is [very] important. – Alvin Hsu

Those who mind don’t matter, those who matter don’t mind! – Megan Chung

Knowledge > intelligence – Howard Park

What other people say about you is none of your business. – Matthew Aquino

There’s always extra toilet paper underneath the plastic bags of the trashcans (in the bathroom). Just untie the bag and reach under. 🙂 – Mandy Hung

During lunch, split up with a group of friends – one goes and grabs seats, and the others buy lunch (the divide and conquer method) – Sean Chang

I wish I could tell myself to be open to change, but to stay true to myself. – Rochelle Sun

High school should be the time when you learn how to work hard and how to give all you’ve got, no matter what you’re doing, when the stakes are low. – Anonymous

Join clubs, get to know your teachers, talk to your peers, these guys will be with you for four years. High school is a lot of work, but the fun I had throughout these years was a blast! – Alex Lee