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I spent my middle school years in a very small Catholic school. And when I say very small, I’m not exaggerating. There were only 60 kids in my graduating class (compared to a typical Long Island high school, some of which had 1,000 kids in a graduating class), and that was one of the biggest grades the school had seen in about ten years. We were in our own little bubble and knew everything about each other.

But when it came time to graduate eighth grade and move on to high school, it also came time for all of us to split up. The majority of the kids in my grade were heading on to one of about five different Long Island Catholic schools. Most groups of BFF’s were sticking together and everyone already knew older kids in those schools. And then there was the handful of us who were going to public school. I was one of them.

I’m not sure why my parents thought it would be fun to separate me from all of the kids I had known my entire life and put me into a completely new environment for high school, but they did. I mean, I guess I know why. They were so over my Catholic school education and they wanted me to be in a more diverse community where I could experience new things and people.

At first, I was excited about the change, mainly because I was sick of wearing a uniform every day (plaid skirts – not as sexy as Britney Spears made them look). I was also sick of my strict education. I had heard stories that public schools let you chew gum during class, wear makeup and experiment with different nail polishes – all things I was never allowed to do in school. I couldn’t wait to be done with grumpy old nuns forever.

Bye plaid skirts! | Source: ShutterStock

But once I realized I was leaving behind all of my childhood BFF’s, I got less excited. I was, and still pretty much am, extremely shy. Who was I going to talk to in the hallways? Who was I supposed to pass notes to during class? And, OMG, who was I going to eat lunch with? For months before the first day of freshmen year, these thoughts whirled through my mind every night. Despite the fact that I had lived in my town my whole life, I knew only one person who didn’t go to my middle school. It was like the public schoolers didn’t exist.

The night before the first day of school, I stayed on the phone with my best friend Sarah for hours. We swore to each other that we wouldn’t let our friendship fall apart even though we would be in different schools, and she gave me tips on how to make friends. I cried myself to sleep, although I woke up every few hours in a panic that I had overslept.

Since I was anxious to make a good impression on my first day, I obviously wore a bright pink tankini bathing suit top under my t-shirt. Why? Because the padding made my boobs look bigger. I mean, I don’t know. Talk to my 13-year-old self and maybe she can explain.

My first day was super scary. I walked to school with the one girl I knew, but we had no classes together and I was too terrified to talk to anyone. During homeroom, I sat at a table with twins named Vicky and Chrissy. They seemed like they knew people. I watched their every move, but didn’t say one word to either of them.

When lunch came, I knew I couldn’t be that loser in the corner crying into her PB&J. I spotted one of the twins from my homeroom across the cafeteria and then watched her walk out the door (we had an open campus). I immediately followed her and another girl, Lauren, to 7-11, keeping a creepy distance of about five feet between us. After I followed them around 7-11, I finally mustered up the courage to say something. I tapped the girl Vicky on the back and said, “Can I eat lunch with you guys?”

I had to go out of my comfort zone to make friends… but it was worth it | Source: ShutterStock

After spending lunch with two girls who seemed super friendly, the rest of the day was a little easier. Sure, some random dude was weirdly teasing me in English, and yes, I spilled a bottle of Coke inside my brand new bag during Biology, but everything else was kind of okay.

I’m not going to lie – it was really difficult to be a new kid. I was shoved into a group of people who had been friends since they were in kindergarten. I was forced to be friendly and outgoing when I’m actually shy and reserved. I felt like I didn’t fit in for a really long time. Some days, I would come home and beg my parents to let me switch to Catholic school with all of my old friends. I was growing apart from them… even Sarah. The people I had once talked to all day were now people I was “catching up with” about once a week. And my public high school was the complete opposite of my middle school. Getting out of my comfort zone and learning to make a place for myself in a school where I felt like I didn’t belong was so hard.

But in the end, it all paid off. That dude who was teasing me in English? I ended up dating him for five years and he was my first love. Those twins from my very first homeroom and that girl Lauren from my awkward lunch? Seven years later and they’re still my best friends in the whole world. So listen: if you’re a new kid, just give it time. I did, and although I didn’t have the greatest first year of high school, I still had four pretty good years.

Have you ever been the new kid? What was it like? What was your worst school experience? Tell us in the comments!

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The first day of school was always bittersweet–I was at once excited to see my friends, use my new pencils and scope out any potential crushes, but I was also PAINFULLY aware that it was all downhill from there, and that running into certain people when the school year started meant telling a few white lies. Check out what I was usually thinking the first day of school and see if it matches with the little white lies you’ll be telling …

To Your Parents

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She said: Mommm—we need to leave now. Didn’t you hear school starts 20 minutes earlier this year??

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She meant: It does not. I just can’t bear the shame of having everyone see my mom dropping me off when all my friends have their license. Kill me.

To Your Teacher

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She said: Um, excuse me, Mrs. Loch? Who do I see about switching my schedule? I really think I should be in Honors Chem this year.

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She said: Mostly because that’s what my crush is taking. And I guess I can learn chem., blah blah college apps, something something GPA.

To Your Little Sister

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She said: Just because you’re in 9^th grade now and Dad is making me drive you to school doesn’t mean we’re going to be seen together. I’ll drop you off a block away. Deal with it.

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She meant: You grew boobs and lost your baby fat this summer. I don’t need the competition.

To Your BFF

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She said: Oh mah gahhhh I missed you sooooo much! I got us lockers next to each other and how do you feel about Chipotle for lunch? My treat!

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She meant: You also grew boobs this summer—and got highlights and clearly spent the whole summer at the gym (without me)—I need to make sure you don’t get swept up by the popular girls and leave me behind!

To Your Frenemy

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She said: Mmm hi Kylie. Um, weren’t you supposed to go abroad this semeseter? That’s ok. I hear Rome is, like, Carb City—who needs that, right?

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She meant: Ugh, you again. I was really hoping you’d get kidnapped or move to some obscure country whose name I can’t even pronounce. Lame.

To The Only Girl Who Gets Better Grades Than You In Calculus

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She said: Oh whoops, I dropped my calculator. Could you hand it to me, Emma?

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She meant: Awwww snap, that’s right it’s a TI-89 TITANIUM, BITCH!

Do you love the first day of school or hate it? What are some of the little white lies you’ll be telling? Spill it all in the comments!

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By now, I think we can officially say that summer is over. Sigh. But as great as summer 2012 was, looking forward to a new school year is always kind of exciting – even if we don’t really want to admit it. And while the first day of school is important, we all know what it’s really about: catching up with the friends you haven’t seen, showing off a new outfit and scooping out any new hotties.

Since you’ve probably already been thinking about what your first day will be like, these questions should be easy (and fun, obvs!). And if you haven’t given it a second thought? Well then this will help you plan! Copy and paste the questions into the comments and start answering.

1. When is your first day of school?

2. Admit it – are you a little excited to go back to school?

3. What grade or year are you going into?

4. Have you planned your outfit yet? If so, what is it?

5. What’s your first class on your first day?

6. Who are you most excited to see in school?

7. Are you going to a brand new school this year?

8. What are you most nervous about for the first day back?

9. How are you getting to school? Walking, driving yourself, taking the bus, etc.

10. What are you going to miss the most about the summertime?

Get those nerd glasses on! | Source: ShutterStock

11. Who are you least excited to see?

12. Have you bought all of your school supplies yet?

13. Are you going to play a sport this year?

14. What are your goals for this school year?

15. Is there anything you want to do differently?

16. Do you have any classes with your best friend?

17. Did you buy an outfit just for the first day of school?

18. Are you already counting down to your first break?

19. What’s your least favorite class on your first day?

20. Are you doing anything to celebrate your first day back?

Take more surveys here!

Smile! It’s gonna be a great year! | Source: Shutterstock

Get started right here!

What are you looking forward to about this school year? Tell us in the comments!

See you in September! | Source

Back to school prep can be sort of disheartening–who really wants summer to end?! But it’s also fun and exciting, because there’s such an air of possibility when you start a new school year. It can feel like a transformation to start fresh (especially if you have a new look!). If you’re more dreading school than anticipating it, it can be a pretty stressful time–especially if you procrastinate!

Whether you’re stoked or bummed to start school this year, we have some ways to make your school year start smoothly–so you can get kick butt grades, have more fun, and look super cute without breaking the bank. Here’s your complete guide to back to school prep!

Admit it, you missed those crunchy leaves! | Source: ShutterStock

As great as the summer is (and it’s pretty freakin’ great), you have to admit that the fall is an awesome season as well. Think about it: pumpkin spice lattes, Halloween, cozy sweaters, colorful leaves… I mean, do I really need to go on? And even if you’re dreading the first day of school, you know you’re also kind of looking forward to a fresh start to a new school year. Admit it!

This survey is all about getting excited for fall. What are you most looking forward to? Or maybe, what are you really not happy about? We want to know all about it. Once you take this survey, we’re pretty sure you’ll be counting down the days until the weather starts getting just a little bit cooler and crisper. Just copy and paste the questions into the comments and go!

1. If you’re going back to school in the fall, what grade or year are you going into?

2. What are your goals for this school year?

3. When it comes to school, what are you dreading the most?

4. Do you have any exciting plans for this new school year?

5. What piece of fall fashion are you most excited to buy?

6. Have you already started thinking about what you want to be for Halloween?

7. What do you think is the best part of the fall?

8. What’s the worst part?

9. Do you go pumpkin picking every year?

Who doesn’t like pumpkins? I mean, really! | Source: ShutterStock

10. What’s better: a pumpkin spice latte or apple cider?

11. Do you have classes with any of your best friends this year?

12. Which class are you least excited to take this year?

13. Have you ever jumped into a huge pile of leaves?

14. Would you rather have it be hot and humid out (like the summer) or cool and breezy out (like the fall)?

15. Do you have any fun back to school traditions?

16. Which TV show are you most excited to see new episodes of (finally!)?

17. Which summer TV show are you going to miss the most?

18. Have you started your back-to-school shopping already?

19. Be honest: did you do your summer reading?

20. Which class are you most excited to take this year?

Take more surveys here!

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Are you looking forward to back to school shopping? Let us know in the comments!

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Growing up I was a little, shall we say, nerdy. OK no that’s false. I was THE BIGGEST NERD EVER. The instant I got home I plopped down and to do my homework. The concept of going out and playing when my homework wasn’t done was…well, ludicrous, frankly.

This continued for my entire academic career, right until the end of college. And guess what? No one gives a shit. No one.

I’m lucky enough to be a professional writer, but unlucky in that no one cares 1) what my GPA was or 2) where I even went to college. People definitely want to hire a college grad—but no one has ever even verified that I actually attended.

As I sat through numerous job interviews, I began to get very bitter that I’d worked my butt off to get into the best school I could only to have my eyes glaze over when I mentioned it.

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Didn’t they appreciate how I slaved over Stats and agonized through Econ? Could they not fathom how hard I worked to pass Bio? I’m not one of those girls who, academically, is good at everything. I’m only good at words. Science, math—anything in that realm is like torture. But still, I toiled for years to not just pass those classes but ace them, SURE that one day someone would appreciate it. They didn’t.

Now, hold on here. This is a very slippery slope. You’re probably hearing me say something like “Come with me! Careen down this hill of ‘I don’t give an eff’ at my side and feel the wind of whateverishness blow through your hair as you sail away from piles of homework, towards total freedom!”

I’m not saying that. Not at all. In fact, I’m kind of saying the opposite. If I could do my academic career all over again, it’d go something like this:

Work really hard in elementary and middle school—here you learn things you actually use like how to read, how to spell, how to multiply and history. Knowing about history makes you cool as an adult. Seriously.

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Work really hard in high school—this is the most important because it determines where you go to college. What you learn at university is, in many cases, irrelevant. It matters more that you went and where you went than anything. You want to go to the best college possible so you can meet the best teachers/people/boyfriends/friends possible and make the best connections. This will make your life IMMENSELY easier. Seriously.

Slack off in college except for courses I care about—I just about killed myself to pass Econ and guess what, it’s still a total mystery to me. Looking back, I wish I’d devoted all that time to really learning grammar or reading different authors—that would have been way better for my career than diagramming, um, currencies? See, I don’t even know what I’m talking about even in the vaguest sense. SERIOUSLY.

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My point is—you should only stress over grades if you don’t know what you want to do in life. Because if you decide to go for a graduate degree or switch careers, you’ll need a kick-ass GPA. But if you, like me, know from the get-go that you’re going to pick one track and stick to it, focus your learning there and don’t panic if you don’t ace courses that ultimately don’t matter to you.

Getting good grades can be uber stressy. Here’s to a school year with less effed-up stress and way more fun.

Are you with me in thinking that good grades don’t matter so much, or do you think I’m cray? Tell me in the comments!

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