Your GPA matters from the very beginning! It is important to stay on top of your classes and grades from your first semester. Remember it is easy to lower your GPA but difficult to raise it later on. And your GPA is a major component for college admissions and entrance into honor societies.
Adjusting to high school can take some time, so make sure to not overwhelm yourself. Think about the time commitment and rigor of certain classes so you may have a manageable workload. If you are up for a challenge, consider taking your first AP or Dual Enrollment class your freshmen year.
Now is the perfect time to hone your time management and study skills (if you have not already done so in middle school). High school classes require more responsibility, self-planning, and studying than you might be used to. Maintaining an up-to-date agenda and realizing which study method works best for you (flashcards, visual images, reading, practice problems, etc) will help you in the long run.
Club Rush is a great opportunity to discover all the clubs / student organizations that your school has to offer and sign up for those that interest you. Be on the lookout for the announced date in the Fall! It's also never too early to start searching for opportunities to volunteer in your community. For instance, school clubs constantly hold collection drives that offer community service hours for donations. Click here to view extracurriculars to get involved in.
Terra offers the PSAT as early as freshmen year! While it is optional, it is highly recommended that you expose yourself to the SAT's testing format and timing. It is also great to see your yearly improvement and hone your studying to your weakest points.
Enjoy your freshmen year! Time truly does fly by (as cheesy as that sounds) so enjoy the journey that is high school to the maximum.