Tips On Preparing For The New School Year
By: Lexi Nass, LMSW
As summer is starting to come to an end and the new school year is starting to approach, it’s normal to feel anxious or nervous with the changes that are about to come. During this past year, everyone adjusted to a new normal of learning. Whether you were fully remote or hybrid, students everywhere around the world were forced to shift their learning experiences to something that felt unfamiliar and challenging. Going into this new school year, it is likely that students will be able to expand their learning and social opportunities.
Thinking about the new school year ahead may feel like another adjustment; whether you are shifting back to your old ways of learning in person, or for some, experiencing a completely new way of learning all together. Common concerns may be the challenge of school work, meeting new people, or trying out a new sport or after school activity. To help prepare you for obstacles the new school year may face, here are some tips to help:
1. Start your summer work as early as you can- Many teachers give assignments to be completed before the year even starts. Although it can seem frustrating to do school work during your summer months off from school, it can help ease the transition back into the reality of having to do homework. It is very common to be given summer reading assignments. Try to make your summer reading into a more enjoyable task by breaking it up and reading a chapter a night. or even starting a book club with other friends in your class! Going into your first day of school with your assignments completed will help you feel accomplished, show your teachers you take the class seriously, and will set you up for success.
2. Make new friends- A new school year means a fresh start! You have the ability to choose who you surround yourself with and the opportunity to set goals on how you want your year to be. Whether you are going into a new school, transferring schools or returning to a same school, making friends can sometimes feel challenging. If you find yourself nervous to start a conversation with someone, just remember you are more than likely not alone in that feeling! It is common to experience anxiety and nervousness with communicating and making new friends. Start slow; say Hi to a new classmate or just introduce yourself to someone you haven’t seen before. Find someone with a familiar face during lunch to sit with.
3. Join an activity- Whether you are interested in sports, art, or music, or just looking to meet new people, joining an afterschool club or team can be a great way to get involved at school and try new activities. Getting involved in extracurricular activities allows you to build a structured routine for yourself and can encourage healthy lifestyle habits. Finding an activity that brings you joy, where you can have fun, and learn new skills, is important! Not only are you learning the skills of the sport or the activity, but you learn the importance of teamwork, respect, responsibility, and hard work, which are essential skills that you will have for life.
If you don’t like sports, or aren’t interested in the arts, try and explore other extra-curricular activities such as book club, cooking, debate team or spelling team! If you still can’t find something you enjoy, you can even inquire about what it might look like to start an afterschool activity with a teacher as your advisor.
4. Turn to available resources- You don’t have to go through any of this on your own! If you are nervous about taking harder classes, noticing you are having trouble keeping up in your classes, or just struggling with the workload, reach out to your school to find available resources. Many schools offer different types of resources to help you succeed, such as peer tutoring or after school help. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your teacher and schedule an appointment to review an assignment or an exam. You can even look into starting a study group with your classmates, which can also be a fun way to study!
If you’re experiencing symptoms of anxiety or stress about entering a new year of school, just remember, you are not alone! Having open communication and sharing your feelings or experiences with your parents, friends, classmates and teachers will allow you to help feel supported throughout your experience. To learn more about how to cope with feelings surrounding going back to school, reach out to us today at hello@upsidertherapy.com. We’d love to help!