Back to School

It’s that time of the year again, which some pupils may love and others … not so much. Back to school time.

No more staying up late and spending your days camped out in front of the TV. It’s that time when you and your parents head to the stationers to get your books, covers, pens, pencils and all other necessities to set you up for the school year. It’s the time when Boundary is filled with bright faces getting fitted for their new uniforms complete with blazers, ties, socks and shoes.

Although it might be dreaded, the beginning of the new school year is always exciting as you get to meet up again with friends and make a fresh start. To make the first few weeks of school a breeze, YouthPaper has some tips that might come in handy and ensure this is an enjoyable time.

According to entrepreneur and public speaker Gabrielle Flank from an article on HuffPost.com, making sure that you have all the proper school supplies you need is essential to get back in the swing of things.

“During the first day of class most teachers will tell you everything they require for their courses. Make sure that you get the specified supplies so that you are able to keep up with the class work and stay organised.”

Another invaluable tip is to know your class schedule. Knowing the syllabus for all your classes is important.

“I highly suggest keeping it in a safe and convenient place you can frequently view. Knowing when you have papers and projects due is so important for passing the course and keeping up your grades. Having the syllabus will allow you to plan ahead and give yourself adequate time to complete every assignment and get great grades.”

One thing everyone struggles with is procrastination, always extending deadlines and Flank notes that this can have stressful repercussions.

“A habit is created in three weeks so if you study for every course you’re taking daily in 21 days that will be a new habit for you. Dedicating a little bit of time every day to the courses you are taking is definitely going to positively impact your grades and make you a better student,” she writes.

To make sure not to be alienated from social activities and groups, it is important to get involved with your school community. This allows you to make new friends who have the same interests as you. “If you enjoy playing sports try out for the school team. If you are a musician or actor then join your school band or drama club and share your talent with your peers. Join clubs that you are interested in and attend all the meetings.”

One of the most important tips Flank points out is to recognise what type of pupil you are and what learning methods work best for you. She says there are three main types of learning styles: auditory, visual and kinesthetic (physical activity and engagement). “When you are able to determine the type of learning style that is best for you, you will find better results when you are studying and it will result in higher test scores. I highly encourage you to do some research and determine the type of learner you are so you can personalise your studying.”

Meet Those Challenges

Louw du Toit of Let’s Talk Psychologists has noted that the transition from primary to high school can pose its own challenges

“More often than not it is a ‘new year, new me’ resolution for many of us. It’s also that time of the year where a large number of our youth enrol at a new school. Starting high school can be a very exciting time for a youngster. It may also be very confusing and quite scary for some. There are many changes from primary school and many teenagers “go backwards” for a while as they learn to adjust to the new changes or challenges,” du Toit writes in an advice piece.

He notes that schools system changes, social changes and body image changes can all pose challenges for new high school goers.

“When one enrols at a new school; especially high school, it’s usually a much bigger place with a lot more students and your teen is suddenly at the bottom rather than the top of the school,” he notes, adding that in high schools, schedules are much different and can be confusing as pupils head to different teachers for different periods as opposed to primary school.

“Much bigger class sizes, less individual attention and more competition may overwhelm a teenager at first. Also, now is the time when the child as a teenager has to begin learning independence in order to succeed in college or work after high school.”

Splitting from childhood friends may also be a stresser du Toit says. “The teen’s friends may be going to different schools or be in different classes so they may need to make new friends. They may also worry about finding new friends and peer groups. The large size of a new high school can be overwhelming and even intimidating.”

From being the big fish in a little pond, to a small fish in the ocean, new high schoolers might get overwhelmed by being with physically bigger and more mature pupils all the time. Along with this, puberty may start to kick in as well and add to the struggles of adjustment.

“Puberty for teens drives both mental and physical development in adolescence. Therefore, along with changes in their bodies, teens experience lots of emotional ups and downs while going through puberty,” du Toit says.

The psychologist has a list of what new high schoolers might feel during the first weeks of school:

n Lost and confused

n Missing their old school and old friends

n Lonely and unhappy (until new friends are made)

n Worried that they will not be able to cope with the new demands

n Worried that they will not ‘fit in’

With a positive attitude, all these challenges and feelings of fear will be overcome.

As the new year takes centre stage, make sure to have a fun and productive school year. The YouthPaper wishes you all the best.

– With additional information from huffpost.com

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