5 Things You Need To Know About Being The New Kid In High School

Honest advice from The New Kid herself

1. People Won't Go Out Of Their Way To Make You Comfortable

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Unless the person sitting next to you in AP Chemistry is an angel sent to help you assimilate to your new surroundings, they'll likely ignore you in favor of playing Cut The Rope or Temple Run. The sad truth is, not many people care enough to talk to you, so don't expect everyone to be clammering for your attention. If the school is especially large, they might not even know you're new.

What you can do: Talk to people, join clubs, participate in class, and be open to new friendships. Being open and friendly to anyone you speak to or interact with does wonders for a first impression and will make them more likely to talk to you again, maybe even introduce you to their friends, and BAM. Just like that, you're not eating lunch alone in the bathroom anymore.

2. A New School Doesn't Make You A New Person

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We've all had those 'I'm going to be a new person' fantasies. Let's just make one thing clear right now: High schoolers can smell a fake from three hallways away. You don't want to go down that road.

What you can do: Be yourself, simple as that. Don't pretend to be someone else just because you want to fit in. Go ahead and open up to new experiences, but don't lie and say that you were a track star at your old school when you can barely get from English to History without collapsing.

3. Your Old Friends Might Not Stick Around

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And that's fine. Sure it'll be great if you end up keeping in touch, but if they stop answering your texts and calls then it's time to let them go. You'll probably find yourself thinking about 'the good old days', but quite frankly, reminiscing too often will do you more bad than good. Plus, how are you supposed to create new memories if all you can do is dwell on old ones.

What you can do: For one, make sure there aren't any hard feelings between your old friends and yourself. Burning bridges will get you nowhere. Second, be accepting of the fact that people will leave and enter your life all the time. Not only will this prep you for things you'll have to face later on in life, but moving on will free up space in your mind for more important things like the speech you have to give next class.

4. Being A Jerk Won't Get You Anywhere

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This one's a no brainer, but it's even more important for new kids because you're significantly lacking in the friends department. Your classmates won't care to deal with your attitude, nor are they required to. You need them, not the other way around. It sucks, but it's true.

What you can do: Don't purposely tick people off or gossip. Of course, you don't want to let people walk all over you, but there's a difference between being a total pushover and just being nice.

5. Times Will Get Tough

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Remember that cliche Wattpad novel you were reading at about eleven o' clock last night? Well, it was a misleading (albeit entertaining) pile of crap. You most likely won't find a best friend and fall in love within your first week at this new school. Though, there is a chance that you'll cry more in your first week than you have in your entire life. Hell, maybe you won't even have a table to sit at during lunch. You might (definitely) be that kid that doesn't talk unless they're asking for a bathroom pass. But does that mean you just give up? NO.

What you can do: Dry those tears and keep going. Ask that sweet kid in PE if you can sit with them at lunch. Start participating in class even when you don't want to. You can do this. Everything gets better eventually, I promise.