As a junior, I like to think that I have the ins and outs of Rockbridge County High School down to a science at this point. The only question is, what in the world should I do with this information? 

There are many things that I could do with the insider information that I have, but I have decided that the best option is to share it for all high schoolers and soon-to-be high schoolers to have access to. 

The first and possibly simplest piece of advice is to stay on top of schoolwork. Turning things in late and not going to class is the easiest way to make high school much more stressful than it should be. Avoid loading yourself up with missing work just because though it feels better in the moment, that feeling becomes addictive and leads to a much harder workload down the line. 

Along with that, I suggest building a strong relationship with your teachers. Showing them that you are capable, dependable, and hard-working is the easiest way to get an extension on an assignment if you really need it in the future. Being communicative on where you are at and how you are doing is important as a student because no one is here to make your life extensively harder than it already is. 

The second topic of advice is about your classmates: learn their names! It may seem silly, but you never know when someone is feeling down or alone, and a simple “Hi” or being called by their name can help fix that. It only takes five seconds, and calling your peers by their names makes any greeting that much more personal. 

You also can not predict when or if you will have to work with any of your classmates in the future. Establishing a friendly relationship with individuals in your class whom you do not necessarily hang out with on a regular basis can be extremely helpful if you need assistance down the line. 

The third topic of advice is simple school etiquette. There are plenty of quick do’s and don’ts to be aware of when you get to high school that will make your life much simpler and limit the amount of awkwardness and confrontation you experience. Following these etiquette tips may be the most useful information that I have for any upcoming high schooler. 

The do’s start off strong with walking on the right side of the hallway. Go with the flow of traffic because you do not want to be the person who messes with the flow of everyone else’s day.

Continuing on, DO form a single file line, that is one person wide, in the staircases. No matter if you are walking with someone special or if you see someone you want to chat with, a single file line is the best way to have a smooth journey up the stairs. 

Finally, do say hi to your teachers in the halls. All teachers stand outside their classrooms to keep the peace in the halls, and saying hello is an easy way to keep a good, friendly relationship going with them. 

On the contrary, there are some definite don’ts to know when you enter the doors of Rockbridge County. 

First off, try not to meander through the hallways. Walking quickly will be your biggest asset, and walking slowly will be your biggest enemy. There is no reason to get lapped in the hall because it is not hard to just walk from class to class. 

Another strong don’t is the entire concept of PDA. Just because there are alcoves, doesn’t mean anyone should make out or cuddle in them. It is really a mood killer and grosses everybody out. It is also against school rules, so if being gross does not dissuade you, let school rules be the reason you keep your hands to yourself. 

The final don’t is do not be awkward. A simple fix to this issue is to respond to the people who try to talk to you. Using a smile is the simplest way to recover from an awkward situation. Instead of walking away with a red face and your head down, just smile and mumble something like “oh yeah” or “haha” as you continue on your way. 

All in all, being a friendly, hardworking person who is willing to abide by the social norms at RCHS will provide anyone in high school with the best experience possible. Make life easier for yourself with these tips and tricks, and if anyone wants more advice you can find me walking quickly on the right side of the hallway or in a single file staircase line between the days of Monday and Friday and the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:25 p.m.