As Ferris Bueller once succinctly put it, “‘Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” And like life, so does high school. As a yearly tradition, Mrs. Schumacher’s seniors cull together their own set of adages in an attempt to help the freshman class avoid the pitfalls they may have fallen into when they were not quite as wise as they are now. Here is what they came up with:

Don’t get on Chalmer’s bad side.
Mrs. Chalmers owns this school, therefore, Mrs. Chalmers owns you. If you get on her bad side, she will delete you off the face of the Earth. If you are on her good side, she will provide you with life lessons and kindness. Don’t be on her bad side.
– Aidan R. & Sam L.

Always be kind.
Be nice, don’t be a fool. Try your best to respect everyone’s opinions. Not everyone thinks the same way as you do. It doesn’t cost you anything to be kind, but if you try to be nice, you will see the difference.
– Mirna G. & Ronaldo P.

Prioritize yourself above all.
All of your little friends aren’t going to be following you to the same college; in the end you have only yourself and only you can achieve your goals – no one else. If you notice your grades slacking, take the initiative and don’t wait around for things to get worse. That was my downfall.
– Isabella P. & Leilani L.

Every year is important.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that one year is more important than any other. Although colleges look at mostly freshman through junior year, senior year is still just as important. Some colleges look at the first semester of senior year. You don’t want to get lazy and stop trying. Grades slipping can be a reason why a college changes its mind about a committed student.
– Jason W. & Alyssa C.

Mistakes are good as long as you learn from them.
We’re all human. Everyone makes mistakes. Obviously some mistakes are bigger than others, but like a bracelet I have says, “__ happens.” Mistakes can be very valuable in everything that you do in life: try to take the good out of a bad situation. If you make a mistake, you should acknowledge it, reflect upon it, and learn to not do it again. Learning through trial and error is one of the best ways to learn as you learn the causes and effects of your actions.
– Jia L. & Elton N.

Don’t plagiarize.
Teachers will find out. You may not think that they pay attention but they do and they have been working for longer than you have been born and know all the tricks in the book.
– Isabella N. & Grace N.

Use your study halls to the best of your ability.
It is pointless to waste a 40 minute period throughout your school day just scrolling through your phone when you do that at home anyway.
– Joseph D. & Bradlee M.

Not everybody finds their high school sweetheart.
All your friends could be finding the “loves of their lives” and you still haven’t had a first kiss yet. It is not a big deal. High school is all about finding who you actually are and not being tied down 24/7.
– Madison C. & Danielle R.

Grades don’t determine whether you’re “smart” or not.
Just because you do poorly on tests doesn’t mean you’re dumb. Not everyone is capable of learning the same ways. If you get bad grades, it isn’t definite that you won’t be as successful in life as someone who aces every test. What matters is how you use your strengths.
– Gianna I. & Nico S.

Don’t do stupid things to look cool, because no one cares.
No one actually cares what you do. For instance, if you do something stupid at a party or even in school to try to impress a girl, boy, or a group of kids, you will probably just make a fool of yourself. If you want to impress someone, actually get to know them and be yourself.
– Allie C. & Owen D.

You’re not alone.
We know that the last thing you’re going to want to do is talk about your feelings. But, high school is stressful, and a lot is going to be thrown at you, personally and educationally. People are willing to help you through your problems. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Teachers, social workers, even your fellow students, would be happy to help you out: just ask.
– Erin G. & Shkurt G.

You do not need to go to college.
Yes, college is important and it offers more jobs in the workforce after you graduate (if you graduate), but we know people who opted to work instead of going to college. These people have worked for two years, built relationships, and are ready to be hired with a trade or are already working full-time making good money.
– Max K. & Bobby M.

Lates matter in high school.
Getting to class on time is obviously an important thing to do, however, many kids think that having lates is just a tardy you get on your attendance. If you have a lot of “lates” in high school, from grades 9 to 11, you will put your chances of getting a good parking spot – or even getting a parking spot – in jeopardy and you might not be able to drive in your senior year. Not only that, but teachers always dislike the students who come even a minute late without passes.
– Enjgel D. & Tyler D.

Time is fleeting.
You’re freshmen this year, and not too long from now you’ll be seniors. It may not seem like it, but time definitely moves faster in high school. Plan your time accordingly for assignment due dates and other things with deadlines. Pitch in and help out when you can. Before you know it, you’ll be at your graduation ceremony, looking back on all the good things you’ve spent your time doing. So, spend it doing something to remember.
– Trinity C. & Paul S.