As the new school year begins and hundreds of new students fill the gaps in our school left by graduating seniors the year prior, we navigate the halls once again, relearn the science of scheduling and time management, and prepare ourselves for the 2024-2025 school year. Five things that are important to remember during the new school year have helped me to achieve many goals and make the most of my time in school. Adopting these habits will help you stay calm through the chaos of this upcoming year. Hang on, and keep in mind:

1. Be organized. Losing papers and forgetting pencils is a common problem, but it also happens to be one of the easiest to fix. Even if your teacher doesn’t use a designated notebook, have a folder or something for every class and a way to keep track of everything. Even when in a rush, make sure to carefully put your papers in the right pocket. Carry a pencil case with everything you need in it—pencils, pens, highlighters, sharpeners, etcetera—and don’t let it leave your backpack unless you are actively taking things out of it.
2. Be respectful. I promise that it is worth it to be nice to your teachers. Assuming that they know best and treating them as such will help you to form good relationships with the adults in your life. It will help you in the future to be comfortable asking for help when you need it and will be beneficial to everyone, both you and your teachers. Your teacher puts in time and effort to give you an education, so make sure to show appreciation, even if you are frustrated with the workload or are having an off-day in class. If all goes well, you could form an incredible relationship of mutual respect with your teachers.
3. Be healthy. This encompasses hygiene, eating, and getting enough sleep. Sometimes there doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day to participate in activities, deal with all of life’s problems, then eat a nutritious meal and get a full eight hours of sleep, but being intentional about how you are treating your body will change your school experience as you feel better, have more energy, and are overall happier. Now, obviously, it will be hard to get enough sleep every single night, but learning to manage your time a little better will get you done with your homework a little more quickly after extracurricular activities. Additionally, putting your phone away an hour before bed and sleeping with it outside of your bedroom is scientifically proven to help you rest better. Doing these small things can significantly improve your school performance and overall experience.
4. Be intentional. If and when you pick up your phone, do so with a purpose in mind. Then fulfill that purpose and put it back down. Plan out your days and weeks so that you will have enough time for homework, housework, family time, friend time, and extracurriculars. Take advantage of any class time you are given and avoid procrastinating. Ask for help when you need it, tell your teacher when you don’t understand something, and complete all your work on time. Invest in positive relationships with your friends and family, and take the time to be with them. Try not to let yourself drift away in the flow of life and keep your head above the water. When it gets rough, don’t give up! If you feel like you are juggling too much, talk to a counselor and seek the help you need. You can accomplish so much when you are intentional with the choices you make and the goals you set for yourself.
5. Smile! This can be hard at times, especially when loaded with homework and challenged by all of our many commitments, but taking a moment every now and then to remember what is important to you and what you are grateful for is so beneficial. Stopping to say a kind word to someone else can make your day so much better. Don’t forget who you are, and then smile about how amazing you are and how great you are doing.

Setting these goals for yourself and following through with them will make your school year so much better than a year of ebbing and flowing along with everything. Keep in mind that these should be just that: goals! Nobody is going to be perfect at any of them, but trying your best and celebrating small milestones is proven to motivate you more and more to keep being better. Good luck! This year will be an incredible one if you choose to make it that way!