Friendly Advice

My students are twelve short days away from moving on to the eighth grade. They are wiser, stronger, and more confident than they were way back in August. So I asked them today to think about sharing some of their wisdom with future seventh graders. I think some of these could apply to all of us no matter what stage of life we're in.

1. Be nice to your teachers and give them all a chance.
2. Don’t try to be popular.
3. Have fun, it’s a great school to go too.
4. Go to bed early.
5. Make your teachers like you; you’ll get a lot more breaks than other kids.
6. Make sure you always email Mrs. Stoner if you’re absent and go in at 7am.
7. Always try to do a little better than last time
8. Save all of your work unless you’re told to throw it away.
9. Eat lunch with the people that will make you laugh the hardest.
10. Find friends from all different groups so you’re not just stuck with one.
11. Follow the dress code. You’ll get caught.
12. Be bold. Don’t change for anyone.
13. Be friendly to everyone.
14. Don’t be afraid to talk to your teachers.
15. If you don’t have any friends on the first day don’t give up.
16. Be nice to everyone.
17. Join a sport, go to after school activities.
18. Don’t get in trouble.
19. Go to bed early.
20. Don’t care if someone calls you a “sevie” it’s just a name.
21. Never say anything secret to your friends if you want it to stay it a secret.
22. Don’t whine.
23. Compliment at least one person everyday; you’ll be a better person.
24. Don’t be the “too cool” person that gets on everyone’s nerves.
25. Use your free time wisely.
26. It’s tempting, but don’t fall asleep in class.
27. Do your homework, they’ll make you do it eventually so just do it when it’s assigned.
28. Study for tests- good grades are worth it.
29. Participate in gym if you don’t want a boot camp.
30. Be safe, don’t do drugs or anything like that.
31. Don’t think you can fit in because really no one does.
32. Talk with people you’ve never talked to before.
33. Never go down the up stairs or up the down stairs because the 8th graders will give you a hard time.
34. 7th grade isn’t that scary-other people just like to tell you that.
35. Junior High is all about drama. Don’t worry about being popular. It really doesn’t matter.