I’m sure one of the biggest stressors that students experience during all their school years is going to the next grade. Going into 8th grade from 7th grade felt like a huge leap and you couldn’t help but feel a little nervous about the unknown. As with all things in life, going into the unknown can always be nerve-racking, but i think we all can agree, once you get in there and just do what you must do, it’s never as bad as it seems. 

Pulling from my own experience, I was always a little bit nervous going into the next grade, and especially if you were going into a new grade level and a new school. But it always seems to sort itself out. Ill now go through and list my personal advice as someone who has gone into every grade level: 

Pre-School: You have just come into consciousness basically so just do whatever you can and follow the rules that the teacher assigns you, make sure you work on your handwriting as well as it will be extremely important as you grow up. 

Kindergarten: Have fun and continue working on handwriting, make as many friends as you can as most of these people will grow up with you and stay at the same school. 

1st Grade: Start finding a sport that you enjoy and try and stay consistent with it, but make sure it stays fun for you, don’t overdo it. Keep being social and building friendships. 

2nd Grade: Same as 1st grade but math is going to get a bit harder so ask for help whenever you need it, find someone you know that you can work with so you can succeed together 

3rd Grade: if your school offers any sports at this point, sign up and see what you like, if not wait till next year, it’ll help ease the nervousness of going into the next grade since you have something to look forward to, try and do this for every year as well, find something that going into the next grade opens up for you and look forward to it. 

4th Grade: Join sports if possible and find what’s fun. Learn how to work as a team as best as you can, without letting your emotions get out of control. Letting anger get the best of you or any other emotion does not work well in a team scenario and people will be hard 

5th Grade: Continue sports if possible and keep your friends and make new ones, start looking at after school clubs for stuff you’re passionate about. These next few years will be the ones you look back on when your older and think; “Dang where’d all the time go?” 

6th Grade: If you have a phone by this time, make sure you get as many peoples contact information noted down as you can, just being the person who checks in with your old friends after you go your separate ways means so much to the person youre reaching out to, and it also gives you the opportunity to the other person to do the same! 

7th Grade: Don’t involve yourself in any drama or fights; some people are not meant to be in your life, and if you haven’t already learned to cut off the dead weight, learn now. Some people want to see you fail, and that keeps you around to feel better about themselves. Even if you’ll be lonely without them, it’s better to be by yourself than in bad company. 

8th Grade: You’re about to graduate from middle school, make as many memories as you can, go to as many dances / school events with your friend as possible, they may seem stupid, but it’s just an excuse for you and your friends to have fun and make memories. Some of these people you might never see again due to either moving away or just simply going to another high school. Enjoy them while you have them in your proximity. 

Freshman: Just be yourself, don’t try to fit in with a group you that doesn’t respect you, if you have good friends from middle school there, be with them. If you don’t, there’s literally every type of person in a high school; they’re probably looking for you at the same time you’re looking for them. 

Sophomore: If freshman year wasn’t your wake-up call to stay up to date with your work, then this is. These assignments go fast and most teachers aren’t as lenient on late / missing work. Suck it up, turn it in when its due, the stress about maintain good grades is worlds better than the stress of trying to catch up. 

Junior: Your high school years are coming to an end, start looking at colleges or potential jobs you would be interested in getting into. You arent always going to know what you want to do with your life, and that is completely fine. The first 18 years of your life are planned for you; this might be the first time that you must make a big decision. If you aren’t confident in your choice, keep looking. And for the love of everything, don’t take a pointless gap year! 

Senior: Finalize any decision about your future now, talk to your counselor, teachers, parents about your plans and make sure you have everything mapped out. It’s good to have a plan, but it’s also bad to have a bad plan. So, if your plan sucks, these people will tell you. Lock in and graduate, there’s no point messing up the last year for no reason and not being able to walk to the stage with your peers. Enjoy your senior year, it goes by fast, don’t live in regret because it will eat at you. Get a yearbook and get everyone you’ve ever had any interaction to sign in. Good luck!