Tips from a Senior!

Liv compiles tips, tricks, and life hacks from their own experience and fellow upperclassmen's suggestions to give students a boost in navigating high school.

(Photo: Christofer Miramontes and J Snell, GPHS)

Tips from a senior!

By Liv Akers

Welcome back, GP, or if you are newer, welcome! Regardless of whether you are a senior or a freshman, the GPHS campus can be confusing, and maybe intimidating if you have not had time to get acquainted with it yet. If you went to freshman orientation, you probably received a tour of the basics, but there are certain details of campus that you can only learn through experience. I am here to try to save some of you a bit of trouble, and give you the pointers you might need to get you through high school comfortably here at GP.

Side note: I asked around and gathered a big ol’ pile o’ tips from a ton of different people, so not all of these were originally mine! That said, they mostly all came from seniors, and I can confirm all of them with firsthand experience.

Parking

Fun fact: The senior lot is not actually reserved for seniors. Anyone with a car can buy a parking pass, regardless of grade level. That said, the senior lot is the most likely place for you to get in an accident or for your parked car to be hit, just because the traffic is bonkers. You still have to pay for the 25 dollar parking pass to park in the PAC or district office parking lot, but if the location is convenient for you, it is a much safer option. You can also park on the street in certain places for free, but keep an eye out for any marked no parking zones.

2. Bathrooms

The most popular bathrooms on campus are the commons bathrooms at lunch (especially the very beginning and end of the period) and the core bathrooms during passing periods. Those are typically the first ones to run out of various supplies (toilet paper, towels, etc), and are also where you are most likely to walk through a cloud of blueberry smoke, so I HIGHLY recommend avoiding them at these times. The core ones are pretty dead during class times, but they are also the dirtiest and the first ones to run out of pads and tampons (which are a horror show to try to use, so try to bring your own, but in case of emergency, the women’s bathrooms usually have them). The bathrooms in the PAC are cleaned most frequently for performances and such, and the ones in the protech building behind the science building are used the least, so they are always empty. The science building bathrooms have a good mix of favorable bathroom traits, so those are my personal favorite.

3. Navigation

When I was a freshman, the sheer size of the campus was the most intimidating part of high school. Trust me, you are not alone! I promise you will get comfortable quickly! In case you have not heard it yet, here is how you can tell what building a classroom is in:

100s = Bottom floor of core building
200s = Top floor of core building
300s = Science building
400s = Protech building BEHIND the science building (it is weird, I know.)
500s = PAC
600s = Commons

Photo: Christofer Miramontes and J Snell, GPHS

Some pro tips about navigation:

The back stairs in the core building tend to be way less crowded than the front stairs, and you might get to your classes faster that way.
Take note of the usable doors in every building. I have gone months going through certain doors before realizing I could shave a minute or two off my commute by just using a closer door, so you might surprise yourself.
Plan your route around where water bottle stations and bathrooms are. Sometimes, it is more convenient to go on a passing period than to miss class, and it is easier to just go on your way than to drop your stuff off in class and THEN go.
DO NOT RUN! It disturbs classes around you and you run the risk of slamming into someone due to the sheer size of our student body. Your teachers will understand if you are a minute or two late, and most will not mark you tardy unless you are, like, five minutes late. I promise: barreling through the door out of breath is not the way you want to start class. If you are running behind, just take your time. It’s okay.
DO NOT TOUCH THE SENIOR WALK unless you are a senior. Please, for the love of God, I am begging you... do not do it.

4. Extracurriculars

You have probably heard this before, but get involved in stuff! If you are into athletics, try a sport, and if you are a musician, join a music program. If you do not like organized sports (been there, done that), join one of the dozens of clubs GPHS offers. If you are not sure what your options are, then we have a column written by the amazing Deenie Bulyalert that highlights some of the clubs at our school. Getting involved in extracurriculars will help you find people with similar interests and you will build some super strong bonds with people! It might also just give you something to look forward to at the end of a tiring day; sure, my AP Gov homework is killing me, but at least I get to go to a Scroll meeting later!

Photo: Christofer Miramontes and J Snell, GPHS

5. Nourishment

The drinking fountains are shut off this year as a COVID protocol, but the water bottle filling stations are up and running. To save you the time of searching for them frantically like some kind of sick and twisted game of hide and seek, there are two in the core building; bottom floor, right side (the side with higher numbers), and top floor, left side. You can also find one in the science building in the art hallway, and one in the commons, in the front hallway between the classrooms and the cafeteria. I suggest everyone have a water bottle! Try to drink throughout the day, and plan to drink certain amounts by certain times, so you can schedule when/where you refill them, and when/where you will need the bathroom. I try to fill it at least once, at lunch, but the idea is to drink water when you can!

On that note, remember to eat when your body needs to eat. Honestly, I understand not eating breakfast, because I get nauseous eating too early in the morning, but bring a snack you can eat in between classes, and everyone should eat at lunch. If you do not, you will definitely pass out in seventh period. (That said, Connelly has the easiest room to fall asleep in because of how nice the vibes are, but do NOT give into temptation, and NEVER fall asleep in Frye or Jarvis, because you WILL miss something. I swear you cannot miss a second in those classes.)

6. Surviving AP Classes

First of all, TAKE CHALLENGING CLASSES!! If you plan to go to college, the experience will prepare you for college level classes, and as an underclassman, taking advanced classes will get you ready for your upperclassman classes. Some of my most memorable classes from my first couple years were the classes I took that pushed me out of my comfort zone, and AP classes can earn you college credits that will save you thousands of dollars later. That said, they are a TON of work. Be prepared for a pile of homework and be careful not to overwhelm yourself.

There are a number of tips I have heard for surviving classes in the advanced stream, but these are the ones that have benefited me the most. For starters, get to know your teachers! Having a good relationship with them could be of use to you later, so take note of their quirks, like who answers emails quickly, who grades the fastest, etc., and things like their favorite Dutch Bros drink or their pets’ names. Another thing to do is get friendly with your classmates, because having a friend who did the homework when you forgot can come in handy for class discussions. Make/join group chats with other students who are taking the class. It can be a place to go when you are confused or if you missed the homework assignment, and might also help you find someone friendly in your classes. I would not have survived AP Bio without a group chat of classmates who understood the content better than me.

7. Organization

Does anyone else have trauma from being forced to write in their planners every single day in middle school? It was always the most useless information and took up usable class time and also did not benefit me at all. What was that? I swore off planners for years out of spite because it felt like something I was doing against my will, but I have come to realize the fault in my ways. When you use a planner that you have organized yourself with your own color-coding system or your own priorities listed accordingly, it is actually quite useful. It gives you one list of everything you need for the week/month and will do WONDERS to help you keep yourself organized. If a planner just is not your thing, making to-do lists is also a great way to keep your responsibilities in one place.

Schedule. Everything. If you know you will not have anything to do or you will be bored at a certain time, like lunch or support time, try to do homework. If you know you are going to be working for hours tonight, then schedule a time for yourself to nap or cry or breathe. You can do this!

8. Giving yourself grace

Let’s be honest; we are not robots. We are going to have days where we just cannot be productive, or our hearts just are not in it, and THAT’S OKAY! If you have been doing homework for an hour or two and you find yourself slipping, then take a break! Try again after having a snack and some water. Making study groups is a great way to make work fun and motivate you when you are having a hard time. You can also communicate with your teachers and many of them will be understanding and maybe give you an extension; early honesty will get you a lot farther than “excuses” later. Finally, if you are having a really tough time and the issue is too many tough classes, it is okay to drop advanced classes in favor of easier ones, or if you are an upperclassman, a free period. In that same vein, never be afraid to ask for help! Do not be nervous to ask classmates, upperclassmen, or your teachers if you are struggling with balancing your life, making friends, or even if you are just confused about an assignment. I promise: teachers would rather have you bother them for help and ultimately understand the content better than for you to wing it and just stay perpetually confused.

Photo: Christofer Miramontes and J Snell, GPHS

9. The reality of high school

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but life is not a Disney Channel original movie starring Zac Efron from the year 2006. You are never going to find your Troy Bolton; it just does not happen. I know, it is tough. If you live your high school life like a drama, it is going to be so so so so SO much more difficult than it needs to be. Do not get hung up on drama in your friend group; forgive and move on. Do not put up with people who make you unhappy or start problems; it is okay to just let people go. Dating does not have to be a priority; if you find someone, great, but actively searching for someone to be with is going to make you see love in places it does not exist, and you are going to get your heart broken. It is so exhausting to balance the work and social parts of school when you get hung up on things that will not matter in a month, a year, etc. Find friends who make you happy and will support you when times are tough. Break up with partners that do not respect you or make you feel inferior. Get used to change, because high school will show you who your real friends are, and making a big deal out of these things will only make your life harder.

10. Live for yourself!

You are your own person--above all else. When you walk into school at the beginning of the day, do so confidently. Wear clothes that make you feel good, not the clothes you feel obligated to wear. When you talk, speak for yourself; do not just say what you think will be a hit. Acting like yourself attracts people who are like you, too. The key to making long-lasting, healthy friendships is wearing your heart on your sleeve and putting your personality on a flashing neon sign. People will be your friend for YOU, the real you, and “friends” who don’t jive with that will make their exit from your life.

Now, I hope, my lovely Scroll readers, that it is with this information that you take this humble abode by storm. I am here cheering you all on! I only have a year left in this funky little establishment, but I hope my legacy lives on in the bathrooms that the current freshman class most often frequent. I am sending good vibes and well wishes to all of our new classmates, and to those of us who just need to hear something nice. Keep it up, GP, and have a great four years!

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Tips from a Senior!