We all know starting a new school year as a freshman can feel exciting and overwhelming, with harder classes and a whole new level of independence. The good news? Students and teachers have advice for you. Mrs. Mortier is a well-known Freshman Advisory teacher; before that, she was an assistant principal for ten years, and she started teaching Spanish in 1997. Mrs. Mortier is loved by everyone, and she builds genuine relationships with her students and teaches them the skills they need to be successful. Another well-known freshman advisory teacher, Mr. Wise, has worked at Ukiah High School for two years. Before this, he was in the Navy for twenty-seven years. He also plays many instruments, but especially the drums. Mr. Wise works hard to keep his classroom an inclusive environment for all of his students.
After talking with these two teachers and other UHS students, we’ve created the following freshman survival guide to help you feel prepared, confident, and ready to make the most of your high school career.
Ella and Millie’s Top 10 Tips for a Successful Freshman Year
1. Stay organized from day one.
Use a planner or digital calendar for assignments and tests. Learn your school’s schedule so you’re never late. A map of the school is on the website. Downloading Saturn on your phone can also help students keep track of their schedules and be on time. Millie also uses notion.com to keep track of assignments and tests. Check it out!
Mrs. Mortier also weighed in: “I think [students] need organization. Most often, students aren’t missing assignments or not doing work on purpose. It’s just ‘oh I forgot.’”
2. Check your grades regularly.
Don’t wait until report cards. You will get behind if you don’t pay attention to your grades. Keep track of Aeries to know which classes you are behind in.
3. Get enough sleep.
Getting enough sleep can be the deciding factor in how your day goes. If you have a hard time sleeping at night, you can try melatonin, white noise, or listening to podcasts and music.
When asked what advice she would give to students who are balancing academics, activities, and personal life, Mrs. Mortier said, “Ooh, self-care.” She also emphasized the benefit of sleep.
4. Choose friends wisely.
Surround yourself with people who support you. Don’t let negative people hold you back. When asked about the best way to handle friendship changes in high school, Mr. Wise responded,
“That’s a tough one, but it happens in every stage of life.” He concluded by suggesting that students “embrace new friendships.”
5. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.
Taking a step outside of your comfort zone can help you grow and meet new people. New people can expand your understanding of others, and can help you learn the type of friend and person you want to be. Mrs. Mortier says, “Being kind to each other doesn’t have to be a best friends kind of thing.” She also suggested that freshmen “talk to people [they] don’t know.”
6. Don’t procrastinate.
Small assignments pile up fast in high school. Getting behind is ok, but you should ask your teachers for advice. When asked what’s the best way for freshmen to build confidence in high school, Mr. Wise suggested, “Just put in some effort. Try your best at all you have to do, and ask for help when you need it.”
7. Use school resources.
Tutoring is provided before and after school. Counselors and libraries exist to help you. Use them!
8. Attend class.
Missing a class makes things difficult. Most classes have built-in class work, and often can’t be completed online, so do your best to attend!
9. Don’t be afraid to try new things.
High school is for exploring interests. At Ukiah High, we have 30+ clubs, so there is a good chance you will find something you like. Mr. Wise advises, “A good habit to develop is being open-minded.”
10. Take care of your mental health.
It’s okay to feel overwhelmed—talk to someone. Mr. Wise suggests that freshmen who put too much pressure on themselves: “learn positive ways to help with work/life balance, like making sure you give yourself downtime and find stress reduction techniques that work for you.”
We also asked Mrs. Mortier if she could give the freshmen one piece of advice, what would it be? Her response was “help your teachers get to know you.”
We asked Mr. Wise what he would want to say directly to freshmen reading this article, and he responded, “Jump in, hold on, and make the best of your time here! It will go fast!”
Freshmen, there are so many activities, sports, clubs, and people in a new school, and that might be intimidating, but the best thing you can do is put yourself out there. This is the time to try new things; it’s ok if your goals change as long as you keep working toward your future. You don’t need to have your life figured out yet, but this is the time to think about what you want to do.
Good luck!
Ella Asfour
Ella Asfour is a freshman at Ukiah High School. This is her first year as part of the journalism program. In her free time, Ella enjoys traveling and hanging out with friends and family. She joined the Ukiah High Newspaper to write about her interests and also help keep people updated on UHS events.
