Students swarmed the brightly lit hallways. Teachers, refreshed from their summer of no work to grade, welcomed me in. Everyone seemed like they knew where they were going. They all had a purpose, somewhere to go, and somewhere to be.

My first few days as a transfer student at Kempsville High were definitely overwhelming. If I were to describe my first few days as a freshman at my old school, I’d say that they were overwhelming too.

Entering a new school is bound to be exhausting. Whether you’re a junior or a freshman, there are rules to learn and expectations you hope that your new environment will meet. High school is a wildfire. New people are everywhere you turn, and they’re all endlessly moving, trying to accomplish something in that one moment, and it never stops.

But if Kempsville High is so overwhelmingly exhausting as I’m putting it, then you might be wondering how I’m managing.

Easy to answer: it gets better.

You settle into your classes, you meet new people, and suddenly the place you thought that you’d never be able to adjust to becomes normal.

“It was something new, and people just don’t like change,” said Cindy Lopez, a current freshman at Kempsville High. “Now, it just feels normal.”

So from a freshman and a transfer student, here are a few tips to survive Kempsville High School.

   1) Don’t Be Afraid

“Know that people will talk to you,” said Lopez. You should never be afraid that you won’t make friends because chances are there a ton of people in the same position as you. Just be open-minded and don’t be afraid to speak!

    2) Be Yourself

“Join clubs and sports that you’re interested in.”

Be true to who you are and the things that you like to do. Joining clubs and sports not only enhances your college application, it also helps you to make your high school experience more enjoyable.

    3) Do Your Work

Simply completing and turning in all of your assignments will help you to have a better year because you’ll have less to stress about. Doing what you need to do sets you up for a good work ethic that will eventually help later in life.

    4) Just Breathe

Know that no matter what everything will be okay. Every adult in the building wants to help to make you as comfortable as you can be. They are there to listen to you, so just breathe. Every day is a new day to make high school the best experience it can be for you, so take it one step at a time.

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An experience is only what you make of it. Having an open mind and allowing yourself to get comfortable with making mistakes and learning in a new environment will pay off.

“I’m doing great, and I’ve adjusted,” said Lopez. “It just feels like normal school now.”