THURSDAY,+APRIL+12,+2012

More than anything, the whole social aspect of high school is something that everyone worries about before starting Grade 9. Are there groups/cliques? Do relationships happen? Are there parties? Am I going to make friends easily? Does appearance matter? Those are just a few of the many thoughts that run through the minds of soon to be niners. Some topics were already briefly mentioned in previous posts, but hopefully, this breaks things down into more detail.

Friend groups are inevitable in high school, but the thing that sets it apart from those you see in typical movies are that there aren’t fine boundaries between one set of friends and another. There are always certain people you’d rather spend more of your time with, but interacting with other people is just as common! Cheerleaders, nerds, jocks, geeks – those stereotypical groups are non-existent. No one’s put on a pedestal above anyone else, and no one’s at the bottom of the so-called social pyramid where they’re treated like crap. Especially during the beginning of the year, getting involved is extremely recommended! Signing up for clubs and sports teams allows for even more opportunities to meet new people – in both your grade and others. In terms of the people you hang with, you will likely start with friends from Deer Park and then expand.

No matter who you are, hormones are bound to kick in at some point in your life. For some, high school may just be the time. Relationships happen, hook-ups occur here and there...but if you’re caught in the midst of it all, it’s important you yourself know what’s going on. Know what you’re dealing with – don’t get too caught up because of a guy/girl, and establish your limits. As well, try to keep things as much to yourself as possible. It’s not necessary for everyone in the grade to know what goes on in your personal life and you don’t want to get a bad reputation for doing something you regret. Surprisingly, not as many relationships develop in Grade 9 as one may think. Understand that you’re still only in Grade 9, and that you may not be ready yet compared to someone in Grade 11 or 12. This is perfectly normal. Don’t force yourself in a situation you’re not ready for.

As for parties, there are bound to be quite a few. A major one that many NT students go to is the Fashion Show After Party. You don’t have to be part of the fashion show to go – you simply have to purchase a ticket. It’s organized by students themselves and no school supervision is involved. Though the school isn’t involved, drugs and alcohol are strictly prohibited, as extremely tight security is hired to only let people in who don’t show any signs of substance use. They keep the place at a certain degree of sanity, and steer the focus away from drugs and alcohol. Although drinking (beers or hard liquor) and taking drugs may appear to be the “cool” and necessary thing to do, the number of health risks involved is numerous. In the end, it’s just not worth it: throwing up in the parking lot and the whole next day just isn’t worth it. The younger you are, the worse it is because your body just can’t handle it. Put everything learned in previous health classes to good use, and make sure you’re well educated in these areas, as well as in knowing how to say no when in these situations.

Appearance shouldn’t matter (remember those health classes talking about how the “ideal” body image really isn’t ideal at all?). Whether you’re a fashion conscious or throw-some-sweats-on type of person, you won’t be judged based on what you look like. NT doesn’t have a strict dress code such as the 5cm-above-the-knee-shorts rule (no rulers!), so a bit more freedom is given with choice of clothing. But then again, still keep good judgment in mind – don’t come to school with an outfit that screams inappropriate. While some think top brands are what give them automatic acceptance from others, it’s not the case. In high school, people are more mature and are accepted based on their willingness to make friends, personality, and morals – not by appearance.

One of the biggest worries of Grade 8’s going into Grade 9 is whether they’re going to change or not – and for most people, the scary thought is whether they’re going to change for the worse. In the end, you’re bound to change from year to year. Whether it’s for the better or worse is fully within your control. The key is to make good judgments and decisions. It is important to stay in control and don’t take things too extreme – especially in social situations. Always have a good head on your shoulders and don’t be afraid to stand alone. Remember this is basically your “home” from 9-3pm, 5 days a week, for the next 4 years. Don’t be that girl who sends naked pictures of yourself to a guy or that guy who has to get his stomach pumped at the hospital because you didn’t know when to stop drinking. Take things seriously but still be yourself and have fun!

By the way, I love that you guys are all reading this and hopefully it is helping! Let me know if you have ANY questions about ANYTHING here. You can ask them on the discussion tab above!