As a high school student, it becomes obvious that some things are just a given. Whether it’s silent social cues or teacher expectations, there are some invisible laws that everyone just seems to know and follow. Here are some of them:
- Stay away from your friend’s exes.
This is the number one way to cause drama. It never ends well, and it’s a one-way ticket to a broken friendship. Most of the time, you’ll break up anyway somewhere down the line, so it’s really not worth it.
“I feel like a lot of the fights at Glades are between friends who are fighting over the same guy or girl. It’s so preventable,” says Rylee Polich, a sophomore.
- Don’t make eye contact with security guards.
Security guards can be pretty intimidating. Unless you know one personally, it always feels best to look somewhere else when passing them, even if you’re not doing anything wrong.
- Don’t take someone else’s seat.
After the first month or so of school, everyone’s usually found “their spot” in the classroom. People don’t generally like change, especially when they’re sitting with a specific person or group. If someone sits there, either ask permission or sit somewhere else.
- Don’t remind the teacher about assignments.
Everyone hates it when someone ruins their chances of getting a homework-free night. Don’t be that kid, unless you want the entire class turned against you.
- Always find a seat as far back in the classroom as possible.
Sitting in the front is for kids who are hanging on the teacher’s every word. If you don’t want to be directly in the scold-zone, the farther back, the better. From there, it might be easier to work or even talk to classmates without being under the teacher’s watchful gaze.
- Start packing up your things the minute before the bell rings.
Most teachers are against this, instead pushing the “the bell doesn’t dismiss you, I do” rule. But the truth is that packing up a little early might help you leave more quickly and allow you to get to your next class more efficiently. Especially if you’re meeting someone.
- If you have gum, be ready to share it with 5+ people.
The second a gum wrapper touches the school air, kids will come over and ask for some. Either bring extra for other people, or be prepared to say “no” a million times to kids who are addicted to polar ice or fresh mint.
“It’s crazy how quickly people will come up and ask,” says Lauren Saddler, a 10th grader. “It’s like they can smell it in the air.”
- Overshare your drama online and watch as it becomes everyone else’s business.
One of the most common mistakes is airing your dirty laundry on socials where everyone can see. Soon enough, everyone will be gossiping and spreading rumors about what they think is happening. Your private drama isn’t worth a Snap story.
- Always print stuff out early so you aren’t stuck on the due date.
Unfortunately, technical difficulties happen to everyone. A good way to avoid them is to prepare beforehand by printing out assignments a couple days before they are due. This way, you’ll know if you need to fix your printer or head to Office Depot to make a copy.
- Always read the rubrics—90% of the time, the answers are on it.
Teachers give rubrics to show students what they are expecting from a specific assignment. It’s like a recipe—if you follow it correctly, you’re almost guaranteed an A. Ignoring it means missing out on important details, which might lose you points.
