Whenever we are facing a life change, we are worried that there may be new challenges that we may have difficulty with. This is natural and is actually adaptive for your survival as a human being. By thinking about what high school might be like, you are helping yourself to be prepared for what may lie ahead. Try thinking of yourself as an explorer entering the jungle on an expedition. Would it be smart for that explorer to enter the jungle without first having thought through the possible outcomes of their expedition? The answer is no. The explorer must prepare themselves for what lies ahead in order to stay out of danger and ensure their success on their expedition. As you enter high school, you are like the explorer – in need of some preparation for what lies ahead. Be sure to think through some of the challenges you may encounter and try as best you can to prepare for these, such as buying appropriate school supplies and being open to learning new things.

It’s important to keep in mind that a positive attitude is your best friend wherever you go, especially when you are facing new challenges that may intimidate you and challenge you to change yourself in some ways. Being positive will help you to overcome situations that are unpleasant or uncomfortable and to help you remember what it is that you do have, as opposed to focusing on what you don’t have, what you lack, or what is negative.

That being said, it is equally important to have your own goals and ambitions that surpass your desire and need to be better than others. Remember that you are your highest competitor, and that you can most satisfactorily achieve your goals by competing with YOUR goals and only YOUR goals. Set goals for yourself using the SMART formula: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timed (Wikipedia, 2013) and make your own success. You will have more work in high school than you’ve had before, so it’s important to set your goals and work to achieve them!

Overall, being prepared, having a positive attitude, believing in yourself and setting goals for yourself is the way to success in high school. Good luck and, above all, have fun!