How to Survive Middle School
Know and obey your school's rules!, Avoid drama and gossip., Choose your friends wisely., Don’t let your friends get you in trouble., Don’t do anything that will harm your body., Don't worry about relationships., Don’t worry about gym., Learn how to...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Know and obey your school's rules!
A good attitude is important for your and everybody else's learning benefit.
You don’t want to get in trouble with the teachers or principal in your first year for breaking all sorts of rules you didn't even know about.
Make sure you learn your school’s dress code as well as the other rules and then follow them! Making the teachers dislike you or making yourself seem like a troublemaker is only going to make things harder for you.
Even if your friends are breaking the rules, don't follow their example.
Make an effort to stay in your teachers' good books. -
Step 2: Avoid drama and gossip.
There will be lots of gossip and some really malicious (mean) rumors floating around.
Ignore rumors, even when they’re about you, and if anyone talks or asks you about a rumor, tell them to ignore it and not spread it around.
Never start rumors: they only break friendships, create enemies, hurt feelings, and make things worse for everyone.
Gossip may seem juicy at first, but it bites at the end.
Do your best to stay away from it.
Help to stop rumors and save lives by standing up for people and not participating by spreading the rumor.
Protect other people's privacy and mistakes.
You wouldn't want someone spreading your personal secrets around, would you? Drama is unnecessary.
Some people think that a life has to be filled with melodrama to be important and appreciated by others.
It does not.
Focusing on the things, people, and ideas that are really important is better than worrying about who is going to ask who to the dance. , This is very important.
Be friends with people who don’t start or participate in drama and you’ll avoid the worst things that happen in middle school.
Establish a small group of good friends.
Every group will face a few problems, but if you suddenly feel like your life could be a Disney Channel show, you might want to consider a more sensible group of friends.
Understand that in middle school, rather intentionally or, in most cases, unintentionally, you will make enemies.
The only way to survive is to have a close group of friends who you can trust.
You don't need too many close friends; three or four good friends, and then several casual friends is definitely enough.
Be nice and friendly to everyone, but don't worry about making everyone love you. , Similar to the step above, you shouldn't be friends with people who get you in serious trouble.
If someone asks you to lie about something important, do something illegal, or do something to hurt someone else, then don't do it.
Don’t do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable or what you think is wrong.
This is called peer pressure and it can lead to all sorts of problems.
Don’t be afraid to tell an adult if someone asks or tells you to do something really bad.
This doesn't make you a snitch: it makes you a good person doing the right thing.
If you make a bad decision, talk to an adult you can trust.
Talking to friends about it is the fastest way to start gossip.
But a warning:
They may want revenge if you do that, and if they are willing enough, that may be a bad can of worms to open. , Just like you don’t want to do something to hurt other people, you shouldn't do anything to hurt yourself.
Don’t do drugs, play choking games (or anything else that someone tells you is safe/legal, but you know it's not), or any kind of self-harm like cutting yourself.
If you need help, there are always people who will help you. , Now that you’re in middle school, you’ll start feeling a lot more grown up and you might find yourself wanting a boyfriend or a girlfriend.
You’ll definitely have some pretty serious crushes! But relationships are hard, stressful, and usually cause more problems than they solve.
You might enjoy having crushes and maybe flirt a little, but stay single and focus on having fun, making friends, and learning things. , Everyone worries about gym.
You've probably heard that you’ll have to change your clothes in front of other girls or boys or maybe you've never been very good at gym and you feel embarrassed.
What you have to remember is that everyone is worried and embarrassed, so you're not alone.
You might feel like everyone is watching you while you change, but they are really focusing on getting themselves changed.
Nobody will look at you, because they are too busy thinking YOU are watching them.
Everyone wants to just keep to themselves and change as quickly as possible! If you’re a girl and you feel self-conscious about being on your period while you’re having to change, just wear black or brown underwear.
No one will notice at all.
Middle school is all about those little changes going on your body; if you feel nervous about them, talk to your mom, another trusted adult or a mentor/counselor. , This is a really important skill, not just for getting through middle school but for getting through your whole life.
If you learn good ways to solve problems, you’ll be able to handle anything that comes your way.
For example, you should learn to ask for help when you need it.
Sometimes you’ll feel silly asking for help or you don’t want to admit that you’re having problems, but you don't have to.
Everyone has problems, and whoever you ask for help will totally understand.
They’ve had to ask for help at some point too.
Apologize and accept consequences when you've done something wrong.
After making a mistake, refusing to acknowledge that you did something bad (even if you didn't mean to) will just make things harder for you.
You’ll feel guilty or you’ll have to deal with people being angry with you, and you don’t want that.
If you spread a rumor, apologize.
If you lie to a teacher, confess.
Communicate clearly.
By doing this, you are avoiding most of the problems people face.
A lot of the time, rumors get started because someone misunderstands what you say or you misunderstand what they say.
You might also accidentally offend someone if you say something you don’t mean.
Be careful, clear and always make sure you know what you’re saying. , Remember:
We won't try to make middle school seem like it's the worst thing that will ever happen to you, it might be really great! But, we also won't try to tell you that it's all awesome and like living in a TV show either.
It can be really hard.
Just believe that there will be happy times, and there will be sad times, but no matter how bad it gets, things will always get better. , This will give you a few friends to start off with.
You can ask your elementary friends what school they’ll be going to at the end of your final year, just make sure to get phone numbers so that you can make plans to meet up with them at your new school. , Once you start school, you can also try to make friends with people you see getting on and off at the same bus stop.
Friends that live in your neighborhood can be handy, since you’ll have an easier time hanging out and you’ll have someone nearby that you can call for homework help or advice. , Even if you have a whole bunch of your elementary friends coming with you to middle school, you should still try to make some new friends.
If you don’t try to meet new people, you’ll never know what you’re missing.
Maybe someone you meet will be your best friend for a while. , A great way to meet new friends is to join clubs at your new school.
Most schools will have at least a few clubs and some have lots! Some schools will let you start your own too, if you don’t find one that sounds good to you.
There might be book clubs, a bible study, movie clubs, theater clubs, environmental clubs, cooking club, robotics clubs, or yearbook club (and these are just a few examples).
Don’t forget about sports! There are sports teams if you want to join a team, but there might also be clubs that are just about watching or playing friendly matches if you aren't really good enough or don’t want to join the official school teams.
Volunteering is also a sort of club that will help you meet new people to be friends with.
Your school might have a group that volunteers to raise money for events, make cards for elderly people or people in the hospital, clean up local parks, or other great activities. , You should show what you’re interested in, in subtle ways so that people that like the same thing will know they can come up and talk to you about it.
This is a great way to make friends because you’ll know you already have something in common.
For example, if you like Adventure Time, you can wear a Lumpy Space Princess pin on your backpack.
If you like video games, get a class binder with a picture from your favorite game on it.
If you like a sports team, wear a bracelet for that team. , If you show people that you think you’re a great person to be friends with, and that you think you have a lot to offer to people, then they’ll be much more likely to want to be friends with you.
Don’t constantly apologize and don’t back down if people don’t immediately like you.
Speak up for yourself, stand up straight, and celebrate the things that make you unique. , This is the most important part of making new friends! You’ll never make friends if you don’t talk to people.
Join conversations that sound interesting and introduce yourself to people you think you’d like to be friends with.
Don’t forget to speak up so that people can hear you! Talk like you mean it! , If other people see you enjoying yourself, they’ll want to join in and be friends with you so that they can have fun too.
You can do fun things by joining clubs, drawing in between classes, or putting together parties or other activities for after school. , If you want people to be friends with you, it’s important to be a nice person.
Who wants to be friends with a jerk? Nobody! Be nice to everyone you meet, even if they aren't nice back.
People will notice that you are a great person and they will be much more likely to be nice to you.
It’s important to be actively nice, not just polite.
Help people that have trouble in class, stand up for others when they’re getting bullied, and do nice things for people when you can.
Also, give people honest compliments when they seem like they need it! You never know when someone is going through some really tough times.
They could feel like they’re dying inside and they might not show it.
Your kind words or deeds could make a world of difference to them.
Remember that sometimes, when people are acting really jerky, they do that because they feel bad about themselves or something that’s happening in their life.
They’re mean because they don’t know what kindness looks like! Try to be nice to them even if they’re mean to you.
It might help make them a better person. , If you want to do well in class, the best place to start is to pay attention! It’s amazing how much your grades will go up if you just pay attention and try to absorb as much information from the lesson as possible.
Don’t mess with your phone, try not to daydream, and don’t pass notes with friends.
There’s always time for fun stuff later! , Take notes in class.
You don’t have to write down everything that the teacher says: just write down the really important or hard to remember information.
Write the sort of stuff you’d say if you were explaining the lesson to someone who wasn’t there.
This will help you study for tests later and also do your homework. , This is really important for getting decent grades.
If you don’t do your homework, you’re almost guaranteed to get bad grades, even if you ace tests and stuff like that.
Find some quiet time each evening and just work to get your homework done.
Get help if you need it too! Your homework shouldn't take so much time that you don’t have time to relax too. , Don’t just shove everything in your backpack.
This will make you forget about assignments or lose important papers.
Instead, have a binder for homework assignments and organize them by when they’re due.
Have another binder for class notes, organized by subject.
Consider getting a planner.
You also want to keep your life organized! Get a planner and carefully organize your day.
Set aside time for homework, time for hanging out, time for getting ready and eating breakfast in the morning, and everything else you need to do during your day. , Lots of people develop the very bad habit of procrastinating.
This means that they don’t do things when they should.
Instead, they wait until the last minute! This is bad, because it means that when you do things, you’ll do a bad job because you’ll be rushed.
It will also make you really stressed.
Develop a good habit of doing things at the appropriate time and you’ll save yourself a lot of trouble. , This is a great way to make sure you improve your grades.
When you don’t understand something, ask! This way you know you’re doing something right.
Even if you do understand something, it’s good to ask questions if you’re curious about something else.
Always ask questions and you’ll find yourself getting smarter and smarter. , If you really want good grades, you’ll need to study.
Read all of the books you are assigned and set aside plenty of time to study.
Middle school is an important time to develop good school habits, so getting used to studying now will really help you later. , Don’t worry about getting straight A’s right now.
Just focus on learning as much as you can, developing good school habits, and get the best grades you can.
You shouldn’t settle for a C- but you shouldn’t worry about a B or B+. , Middle school is a great time to explore the things you enjoy and figure out what is important to you.
You should take electives that you think you might like, learn to do things that you’ve always wanted to learn how to do, and read about things you’d like to do in the future.
Read books about people who inspire you.
Figure out what they did to get to where they got and figure out if you want to do the same.
Clubs are a great way to explore things that make you happy! Try joining one at your school.
The internet can also be a great place to explore things you like, especially if you like nerdy stuff! You’ll have a much easier time finding people who like the same stuff.
Just be careful because just like the real world, there are lots of bad people out there on the internet. , Make sure you’re washing your body, keeping your face clean, wearing clean clothes and other things to keep yourself looking nice.
This will help you develop confidence and make you feel more comfortable in your body, even if it is changing. , While it’s important to devote time to learning while you’re in middle school, it’s also important for you to learn how to balance responsibility with fun and relaxation.
You’ll drive yourself crazy if you spend too much time studying, but you’ll also have a really hard time in life if you don’t learn how to be responsible. , You may not realize it now, because many people don’t, but helping others can be the most rewarding thing you ever do.
Making a positive difference in your community and the world can make you feel like a superhero because you’ll be one! Volunteer, help people that you see struggling, and find out how you can improve the world around you. , School is all about getting your mind fit and healthy, but you need to make sure your body stays healthy too.
Make sure you eat right, and get plenty of good exercise to keep your body in good condition.
Getting healthy now means you’ll be able to look forward to a lifetime of good habits! , If you’re good at something, you should find ways to do those things! Get better and better at things you enjoy and that you’re good at.
Your talents can often be turned into a great job or hobby when you’re older (or even now).
Talk to your parents about what you can do, and if they can’t help, talk to a teacher.
For example, if you’re good at drawing, take an art class.
If you have a talent for learning songs, join the band.
If you’re good at math, offer to tutor other students (for extra credit or money!) the possibilities are endless! , You’ll be a much happier person and it will be much easier to deal with problems and the stress of middle school if you learn to worry only about the problems that really matter.
This can be hard to do, and will probably take a long time to learn, but it’s worth keeping in mind.
For example, don’t worry about stuff like losing a game (it’s just a game!), feeling left out (you’ll find your crowd someday and you’re probably not as alone as you feel), people making accusations about you (their drama is theirs, not yours, ignore them), or other kids teasing you (you’ll be the one laughing at them when they work at 7-11 in twenty years and you have a college degree).
Instead, worry about things like injustice, current events, and the world around you.
These are things that matter and that you should always worry about: because if you don’t worry, you won’t do anything about it, and if people don’t do anything then the problems will never get better. , There will be many times where you will feel different and alone.
You might be afraid because you find yourself having a crush on the "wrong" person.
You might feel like no one understands you because you like the "wrong" things.
You might feel left out because you and your parents don't look like everyone else.
But it is very important for you to understand that no matter how alone you feel, no matter how "wrong" or weird you think you are, there are so many people just like you.
Someday you're going to meet them and you're going to find better friends and family that you never thought you would...and you will be more happy than you ever thought you could be.
You might notice, for example, that while all the other girls are giggling over boys, you don't feel the same way.
You might find yourself wanting a very close relationship with another girl.
This shouldn't make you feel like there is something wrong with you because there is nothing wrong with you.
Give things time and take things slow.
You never know how you'll feel in a few months or even a few years.
You might think that you're weird because your family doesn't look like or doesn't talk like everyone else's.
Maybe your parents don't speak English.
Maybe you have two dads.
Maybe your dad is black and your mom is Asian.
The important thing to understand is that families come in all shapes and sizes, and as long as you love each other, that's all that matters.
You are just like everyone else.
No matter how your family looks. , This can be a source of lots of embarrassment and nervousness, but it shouldn’t be.
All the girls have to deal with the same problems! Be prepared and you won’t have anything to worry about. , Pretty much all boys will have to deal with this problem at some point.
Don’t worry: it’s totally normal! Know how to solve the problem and you won’t have anything to worry about.
Try carrying a textbook in front. , A lot of embarrassing moments in middle school come from tripping, falling, or running into someone or something at the worst times.
Work on your coordination and pay attention to your surroundings and avoid your own tale of falling down the bleachers in the middle of an assembly. , You’re probably worried about having to wear a uniform, since most middle schools these days require them, but still looking cool and being yourself.
You can totally do this! With a little creativity, your uniform will be no problem. , Girls are going to need bras and this can be a kind of scary thing.
Don’t worry, though: it’s totally normal.
Don’t be embarrassed to ask your mom or dad for help and get help at the store to find the right size. , Nobody wants to be stinky! Since you’re going through puberty, your body will be a little more likely to get extra stinky and sweaty.
Don’t worry: it’s totally normal! With a little effort, you can stay clean and ready for the day. , As you get your grown up body, you’ll probably have to deal with embarrassing pimples.
This is normal, but there’s no reason you should have to put up with it! With a little help, you can keep your skin pretty clear and nice looking.
If you have constant, painful break-outs it might be a good idea to consult your doctor.
Many times they can prescribe medicines that will help your skin look and feel better! , You don’t want to bully, be bullied, or let anyone else be bullied.
Be brave enough to stop bullying in its tracks and make your school better for everybody! , This will be very important, not just in middle school but for the rest of your school career.
Get good at studying now and this will lead you to better grades and better opportunities for the rest of your life. , Many students coming to middle school struggle with opening their locker.
Combination locks are hard to work sometimes, even for adults.
Learn how to work one, and things will be much easier for you. -
Step 3: Choose your friends wisely.
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Step 4: Don’t let your friends get you in trouble.
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Step 5: Don’t do anything that will harm your body.
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Step 6: Don't worry about relationships.
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Step 7: Don’t worry about gym.
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Step 8: Learn how to solve problems.
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Step 9: Always know that it gets better.
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Step 10: Find people you know.
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Step 11: Find people that live near you.
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Step 12: Be open to new friends.
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Step 13: Join clubs.
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Step 14: Show your interests.
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Step 15: Act self-confident.
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Step 16: Talk to people!
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Step 17: Do fun things.
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Step 18: Be nice!
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Step 19: Pay attention in class.
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Step 20: Take notes.
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Step 21: Do your homework.
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Step 22: Stay organized.
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Step 23: Don’t procrastinate.
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Step 24: Ask questions!
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Step 25: Study as much as you can.
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Step 26: Don’t stress over your grades.
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Step 27: Explore yourself.
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Step 28: Develop good hygiene habits.
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Step 29: Learn to balance responsibilities with fun.
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Step 30: Get involved.
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Step 31: Exercise and eat healthy.
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Step 32: Work on your talents.
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Step 33: Don’t sweat the little things.
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Step 34: Believe that you are normal.
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Step 35: Get used to dealing with your period if you’re a girl.
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Step 36: Learn to hide an erection if you’re a boy.
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Step 37: Work on your coordination.
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Step 38: Dress well.
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Step 39: Get a good bra
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Step 40: if you’re a girl.
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Step 41: Take good care of your body.
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Step 42: Don’t stand for embarrassing pimples!
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Step 43: Stop bullying in its tracks.
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Step 44: Get great study skills.
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Step 45: Learn to open your locker.
Detailed Guide
A good attitude is important for your and everybody else's learning benefit.
You don’t want to get in trouble with the teachers or principal in your first year for breaking all sorts of rules you didn't even know about.
Make sure you learn your school’s dress code as well as the other rules and then follow them! Making the teachers dislike you or making yourself seem like a troublemaker is only going to make things harder for you.
Even if your friends are breaking the rules, don't follow their example.
Make an effort to stay in your teachers' good books.
There will be lots of gossip and some really malicious (mean) rumors floating around.
Ignore rumors, even when they’re about you, and if anyone talks or asks you about a rumor, tell them to ignore it and not spread it around.
Never start rumors: they only break friendships, create enemies, hurt feelings, and make things worse for everyone.
Gossip may seem juicy at first, but it bites at the end.
Do your best to stay away from it.
Help to stop rumors and save lives by standing up for people and not participating by spreading the rumor.
Protect other people's privacy and mistakes.
You wouldn't want someone spreading your personal secrets around, would you? Drama is unnecessary.
Some people think that a life has to be filled with melodrama to be important and appreciated by others.
It does not.
Focusing on the things, people, and ideas that are really important is better than worrying about who is going to ask who to the dance. , This is very important.
Be friends with people who don’t start or participate in drama and you’ll avoid the worst things that happen in middle school.
Establish a small group of good friends.
Every group will face a few problems, but if you suddenly feel like your life could be a Disney Channel show, you might want to consider a more sensible group of friends.
Understand that in middle school, rather intentionally or, in most cases, unintentionally, you will make enemies.
The only way to survive is to have a close group of friends who you can trust.
You don't need too many close friends; three or four good friends, and then several casual friends is definitely enough.
Be nice and friendly to everyone, but don't worry about making everyone love you. , Similar to the step above, you shouldn't be friends with people who get you in serious trouble.
If someone asks you to lie about something important, do something illegal, or do something to hurt someone else, then don't do it.
Don’t do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable or what you think is wrong.
This is called peer pressure and it can lead to all sorts of problems.
Don’t be afraid to tell an adult if someone asks or tells you to do something really bad.
This doesn't make you a snitch: it makes you a good person doing the right thing.
If you make a bad decision, talk to an adult you can trust.
Talking to friends about it is the fastest way to start gossip.
But a warning:
They may want revenge if you do that, and if they are willing enough, that may be a bad can of worms to open. , Just like you don’t want to do something to hurt other people, you shouldn't do anything to hurt yourself.
Don’t do drugs, play choking games (or anything else that someone tells you is safe/legal, but you know it's not), or any kind of self-harm like cutting yourself.
If you need help, there are always people who will help you. , Now that you’re in middle school, you’ll start feeling a lot more grown up and you might find yourself wanting a boyfriend or a girlfriend.
You’ll definitely have some pretty serious crushes! But relationships are hard, stressful, and usually cause more problems than they solve.
You might enjoy having crushes and maybe flirt a little, but stay single and focus on having fun, making friends, and learning things. , Everyone worries about gym.
You've probably heard that you’ll have to change your clothes in front of other girls or boys or maybe you've never been very good at gym and you feel embarrassed.
What you have to remember is that everyone is worried and embarrassed, so you're not alone.
You might feel like everyone is watching you while you change, but they are really focusing on getting themselves changed.
Nobody will look at you, because they are too busy thinking YOU are watching them.
Everyone wants to just keep to themselves and change as quickly as possible! If you’re a girl and you feel self-conscious about being on your period while you’re having to change, just wear black or brown underwear.
No one will notice at all.
Middle school is all about those little changes going on your body; if you feel nervous about them, talk to your mom, another trusted adult or a mentor/counselor. , This is a really important skill, not just for getting through middle school but for getting through your whole life.
If you learn good ways to solve problems, you’ll be able to handle anything that comes your way.
For example, you should learn to ask for help when you need it.
Sometimes you’ll feel silly asking for help or you don’t want to admit that you’re having problems, but you don't have to.
Everyone has problems, and whoever you ask for help will totally understand.
They’ve had to ask for help at some point too.
Apologize and accept consequences when you've done something wrong.
After making a mistake, refusing to acknowledge that you did something bad (even if you didn't mean to) will just make things harder for you.
You’ll feel guilty or you’ll have to deal with people being angry with you, and you don’t want that.
If you spread a rumor, apologize.
If you lie to a teacher, confess.
Communicate clearly.
By doing this, you are avoiding most of the problems people face.
A lot of the time, rumors get started because someone misunderstands what you say or you misunderstand what they say.
You might also accidentally offend someone if you say something you don’t mean.
Be careful, clear and always make sure you know what you’re saying. , Remember:
We won't try to make middle school seem like it's the worst thing that will ever happen to you, it might be really great! But, we also won't try to tell you that it's all awesome and like living in a TV show either.
It can be really hard.
Just believe that there will be happy times, and there will be sad times, but no matter how bad it gets, things will always get better. , This will give you a few friends to start off with.
You can ask your elementary friends what school they’ll be going to at the end of your final year, just make sure to get phone numbers so that you can make plans to meet up with them at your new school. , Once you start school, you can also try to make friends with people you see getting on and off at the same bus stop.
Friends that live in your neighborhood can be handy, since you’ll have an easier time hanging out and you’ll have someone nearby that you can call for homework help or advice. , Even if you have a whole bunch of your elementary friends coming with you to middle school, you should still try to make some new friends.
If you don’t try to meet new people, you’ll never know what you’re missing.
Maybe someone you meet will be your best friend for a while. , A great way to meet new friends is to join clubs at your new school.
Most schools will have at least a few clubs and some have lots! Some schools will let you start your own too, if you don’t find one that sounds good to you.
There might be book clubs, a bible study, movie clubs, theater clubs, environmental clubs, cooking club, robotics clubs, or yearbook club (and these are just a few examples).
Don’t forget about sports! There are sports teams if you want to join a team, but there might also be clubs that are just about watching or playing friendly matches if you aren't really good enough or don’t want to join the official school teams.
Volunteering is also a sort of club that will help you meet new people to be friends with.
Your school might have a group that volunteers to raise money for events, make cards for elderly people or people in the hospital, clean up local parks, or other great activities. , You should show what you’re interested in, in subtle ways so that people that like the same thing will know they can come up and talk to you about it.
This is a great way to make friends because you’ll know you already have something in common.
For example, if you like Adventure Time, you can wear a Lumpy Space Princess pin on your backpack.
If you like video games, get a class binder with a picture from your favorite game on it.
If you like a sports team, wear a bracelet for that team. , If you show people that you think you’re a great person to be friends with, and that you think you have a lot to offer to people, then they’ll be much more likely to want to be friends with you.
Don’t constantly apologize and don’t back down if people don’t immediately like you.
Speak up for yourself, stand up straight, and celebrate the things that make you unique. , This is the most important part of making new friends! You’ll never make friends if you don’t talk to people.
Join conversations that sound interesting and introduce yourself to people you think you’d like to be friends with.
Don’t forget to speak up so that people can hear you! Talk like you mean it! , If other people see you enjoying yourself, they’ll want to join in and be friends with you so that they can have fun too.
You can do fun things by joining clubs, drawing in between classes, or putting together parties or other activities for after school. , If you want people to be friends with you, it’s important to be a nice person.
Who wants to be friends with a jerk? Nobody! Be nice to everyone you meet, even if they aren't nice back.
People will notice that you are a great person and they will be much more likely to be nice to you.
It’s important to be actively nice, not just polite.
Help people that have trouble in class, stand up for others when they’re getting bullied, and do nice things for people when you can.
Also, give people honest compliments when they seem like they need it! You never know when someone is going through some really tough times.
They could feel like they’re dying inside and they might not show it.
Your kind words or deeds could make a world of difference to them.
Remember that sometimes, when people are acting really jerky, they do that because they feel bad about themselves or something that’s happening in their life.
They’re mean because they don’t know what kindness looks like! Try to be nice to them even if they’re mean to you.
It might help make them a better person. , If you want to do well in class, the best place to start is to pay attention! It’s amazing how much your grades will go up if you just pay attention and try to absorb as much information from the lesson as possible.
Don’t mess with your phone, try not to daydream, and don’t pass notes with friends.
There’s always time for fun stuff later! , Take notes in class.
You don’t have to write down everything that the teacher says: just write down the really important or hard to remember information.
Write the sort of stuff you’d say if you were explaining the lesson to someone who wasn’t there.
This will help you study for tests later and also do your homework. , This is really important for getting decent grades.
If you don’t do your homework, you’re almost guaranteed to get bad grades, even if you ace tests and stuff like that.
Find some quiet time each evening and just work to get your homework done.
Get help if you need it too! Your homework shouldn't take so much time that you don’t have time to relax too. , Don’t just shove everything in your backpack.
This will make you forget about assignments or lose important papers.
Instead, have a binder for homework assignments and organize them by when they’re due.
Have another binder for class notes, organized by subject.
Consider getting a planner.
You also want to keep your life organized! Get a planner and carefully organize your day.
Set aside time for homework, time for hanging out, time for getting ready and eating breakfast in the morning, and everything else you need to do during your day. , Lots of people develop the very bad habit of procrastinating.
This means that they don’t do things when they should.
Instead, they wait until the last minute! This is bad, because it means that when you do things, you’ll do a bad job because you’ll be rushed.
It will also make you really stressed.
Develop a good habit of doing things at the appropriate time and you’ll save yourself a lot of trouble. , This is a great way to make sure you improve your grades.
When you don’t understand something, ask! This way you know you’re doing something right.
Even if you do understand something, it’s good to ask questions if you’re curious about something else.
Always ask questions and you’ll find yourself getting smarter and smarter. , If you really want good grades, you’ll need to study.
Read all of the books you are assigned and set aside plenty of time to study.
Middle school is an important time to develop good school habits, so getting used to studying now will really help you later. , Don’t worry about getting straight A’s right now.
Just focus on learning as much as you can, developing good school habits, and get the best grades you can.
You shouldn’t settle for a C- but you shouldn’t worry about a B or B+. , Middle school is a great time to explore the things you enjoy and figure out what is important to you.
You should take electives that you think you might like, learn to do things that you’ve always wanted to learn how to do, and read about things you’d like to do in the future.
Read books about people who inspire you.
Figure out what they did to get to where they got and figure out if you want to do the same.
Clubs are a great way to explore things that make you happy! Try joining one at your school.
The internet can also be a great place to explore things you like, especially if you like nerdy stuff! You’ll have a much easier time finding people who like the same stuff.
Just be careful because just like the real world, there are lots of bad people out there on the internet. , Make sure you’re washing your body, keeping your face clean, wearing clean clothes and other things to keep yourself looking nice.
This will help you develop confidence and make you feel more comfortable in your body, even if it is changing. , While it’s important to devote time to learning while you’re in middle school, it’s also important for you to learn how to balance responsibility with fun and relaxation.
You’ll drive yourself crazy if you spend too much time studying, but you’ll also have a really hard time in life if you don’t learn how to be responsible. , You may not realize it now, because many people don’t, but helping others can be the most rewarding thing you ever do.
Making a positive difference in your community and the world can make you feel like a superhero because you’ll be one! Volunteer, help people that you see struggling, and find out how you can improve the world around you. , School is all about getting your mind fit and healthy, but you need to make sure your body stays healthy too.
Make sure you eat right, and get plenty of good exercise to keep your body in good condition.
Getting healthy now means you’ll be able to look forward to a lifetime of good habits! , If you’re good at something, you should find ways to do those things! Get better and better at things you enjoy and that you’re good at.
Your talents can often be turned into a great job or hobby when you’re older (or even now).
Talk to your parents about what you can do, and if they can’t help, talk to a teacher.
For example, if you’re good at drawing, take an art class.
If you have a talent for learning songs, join the band.
If you’re good at math, offer to tutor other students (for extra credit or money!) the possibilities are endless! , You’ll be a much happier person and it will be much easier to deal with problems and the stress of middle school if you learn to worry only about the problems that really matter.
This can be hard to do, and will probably take a long time to learn, but it’s worth keeping in mind.
For example, don’t worry about stuff like losing a game (it’s just a game!), feeling left out (you’ll find your crowd someday and you’re probably not as alone as you feel), people making accusations about you (their drama is theirs, not yours, ignore them), or other kids teasing you (you’ll be the one laughing at them when they work at 7-11 in twenty years and you have a college degree).
Instead, worry about things like injustice, current events, and the world around you.
These are things that matter and that you should always worry about: because if you don’t worry, you won’t do anything about it, and if people don’t do anything then the problems will never get better. , There will be many times where you will feel different and alone.
You might be afraid because you find yourself having a crush on the "wrong" person.
You might feel like no one understands you because you like the "wrong" things.
You might feel left out because you and your parents don't look like everyone else.
But it is very important for you to understand that no matter how alone you feel, no matter how "wrong" or weird you think you are, there are so many people just like you.
Someday you're going to meet them and you're going to find better friends and family that you never thought you would...and you will be more happy than you ever thought you could be.
You might notice, for example, that while all the other girls are giggling over boys, you don't feel the same way.
You might find yourself wanting a very close relationship with another girl.
This shouldn't make you feel like there is something wrong with you because there is nothing wrong with you.
Give things time and take things slow.
You never know how you'll feel in a few months or even a few years.
You might think that you're weird because your family doesn't look like or doesn't talk like everyone else's.
Maybe your parents don't speak English.
Maybe you have two dads.
Maybe your dad is black and your mom is Asian.
The important thing to understand is that families come in all shapes and sizes, and as long as you love each other, that's all that matters.
You are just like everyone else.
No matter how your family looks. , This can be a source of lots of embarrassment and nervousness, but it shouldn’t be.
All the girls have to deal with the same problems! Be prepared and you won’t have anything to worry about. , Pretty much all boys will have to deal with this problem at some point.
Don’t worry: it’s totally normal! Know how to solve the problem and you won’t have anything to worry about.
Try carrying a textbook in front. , A lot of embarrassing moments in middle school come from tripping, falling, or running into someone or something at the worst times.
Work on your coordination and pay attention to your surroundings and avoid your own tale of falling down the bleachers in the middle of an assembly. , You’re probably worried about having to wear a uniform, since most middle schools these days require them, but still looking cool and being yourself.
You can totally do this! With a little creativity, your uniform will be no problem. , Girls are going to need bras and this can be a kind of scary thing.
Don’t worry, though: it’s totally normal.
Don’t be embarrassed to ask your mom or dad for help and get help at the store to find the right size. , Nobody wants to be stinky! Since you’re going through puberty, your body will be a little more likely to get extra stinky and sweaty.
Don’t worry: it’s totally normal! With a little effort, you can stay clean and ready for the day. , As you get your grown up body, you’ll probably have to deal with embarrassing pimples.
This is normal, but there’s no reason you should have to put up with it! With a little help, you can keep your skin pretty clear and nice looking.
If you have constant, painful break-outs it might be a good idea to consult your doctor.
Many times they can prescribe medicines that will help your skin look and feel better! , You don’t want to bully, be bullied, or let anyone else be bullied.
Be brave enough to stop bullying in its tracks and make your school better for everybody! , This will be very important, not just in middle school but for the rest of your school career.
Get good at studying now and this will lead you to better grades and better opportunities for the rest of your life. , Many students coming to middle school struggle with opening their locker.
Combination locks are hard to work sometimes, even for adults.
Learn how to work one, and things will be much easier for you.
About the Author
Mary Clark
Dedicated to helping readers learn new skills in pet care and beyond.
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