The back-to-school year is getting closer and closer. It may be nerve wrecking to transition on to the next grade. Being unprepared is one thing we do not want to happen. We also want to make sure that we are going to be setting ourselves up for success during the school year.  

Having all the supplies 
Starting the school year, you may think you will need a lot of supplies. But I tell you that you soon come to realize you will not need as much. All that you would need would be a few notebooks, one or two folders, and some writing utensils. Throughout the school year your teacher may mainly assign your work online so you won’t need that many supplies and most of the time the teacher provides you with materials on projects. The most important thing of all is DO NOT rely on the teacher for supplies all the time, you are responsible for yourself. 

Staying consistent 
It is hard to stay consistent, I get it. I have gone through it before. But trust me that when you are in school, you want to stay consistent with what you do. When you are off track from what you do, it creates a messy schedule for you. You want to make sure that you can turn all your work in, keeping it as is instead of slacking and falling behind. In the beginning you may think that it is a little, but as you continue to slack off your grades start to drop. To hold yourself accountable for your own actions, you will stay consistent. 

Technology use 
One of the major things that changes the way we learn is technology. You want to turn off that phone and stay focused and engaged in class. It is what is affecting your learning and grades. Once you keep the distraction away and engage in the course, you will find that it is easier. You may use your devices but learn to appropriately know when to use it. Like if you’re working on your own work and want to focus you can use headphones to listen to music. Or if you have free time you can go on your phone. It can be hard to not touch it but that’s where discipline comes in and you yourself correct that mistake.  

Branch Out 
Whether you are an incoming Freshman or a Senior, it’s never too late to make new friends. When engaging with new people it can be scary, but you will get used to it as you engage with new people. It is good to engage with new people to build your connections and you never know, you can form a really close bond with them. You may just want to stay with the same people you always talk to and hang out with but conversing with new people helps you find people that you can relate to and help you whenever help you are in need. It also helps build your social skills. Don’t put yourself in a box.

Getting Sufficient Sleep 
To get your brain to stimulate properly, you want to make sure that you get enough sleep. Having enough sleep helps get through the day at school. When you can get enough sleep, your brain is able to function properly making it easier for you to process things. Sleeping is an important thing because when we are sleeping our body is constantly changing and recovering. Sleep time is especially important for growth, while you may not feel change, our body is continuously and actively operating. 

Stay organized! 
You want to maintain all your things, so you can be stress free. When keeping all your assignments and test dates organized you can finish things and find things easier. To stay organized, you need a schedule, calendar, or planner. Either of these will work to help you stay on top of all schoolwork and keep it well maintained. It can also be useful to color code if you are a visual person, so consider colors when you are setting up your supplies or typing up notes.

Involve yourself in extracurriculars 
Although school and grades are very important. Being involved in extracurricular activities helps give you a break and for you to join in on the fun. Extracurricular activities are to help you stay engaged and active. It brings you to find what you are interested in and helps you meet people who also enjoy those same things. 

Resources 
You have so many resources in your school that you don’t even realize until you ask. Don’t be scared to ask questions. Questions are helpful and beneficial to you. Some of these resources can be your counselor. They are there to help and answer your questions. If you have programs in your school always check them out and see if you want to join. These resources are there to help you out. So don’t ever feel scared to reach out to them. The sooner you reach out to them the more beneficial it will be to you.