Tips from a Senior!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.