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The new school-year is starting, and that's a lot to think about. You've got new classes, new teachers, new friends, and new enemies. By the time you get through a school-year, sometimes you're glad you actually survived! Looking back on last year, what grade were you in, and what advice would you give to someone who is just starting out in that grade? If you wish someone would have told you just one thing about the school-year you just ended, what would it be? And finally, what kinds of questions and worries do you have about the school-year coming up?

Drama
by Allegra, age 13:

My advice is to whoever is starting middle school for the first time! Do no worry about anything. There is going to be a lot of jealousy and drama, so keep on walking with your head up high. Never low. If there is somebody who is all up on your grill, let your parents or a guidance counselor know about it. I am in the 7th grade, so I know how you may feel for the first year. You have a big sister here, SmartGirl, always right beside your side!

Crazy
by Rennet, age 11:

I was in year six last year and let me tell you, it was craaaaazy! Sometimes I hated it and sometimes I loved it. It was really confusing. I was kinda unpopular and that was hard, but this year (year 7), I plan to just be myself. People can't hate me if it's not me that I'm pretending to be. BTW, I'm Aussie, and where I live, Primary School goes up to year 7 - no middle school.

Lie
by Rennet, age 11:

The beginning of middle school is hard. You barely know yourself. You look at the clock and wish it went faster. People want to make fun of you or even trip you and say, "Look at that nerd." Well, I wish I could just eat in the bathroom.

Untitled
by Audrey, age 12:

I'm 12, and I'm going to 8th this term. 7th, I think, is a year full of ups-and-downs. It was like that for me, at any case. I think 7th grade is all about finding out who you are and loving your identity. It's about embracing the person you are and appreciating others the way they are, too.

I had two extremes of people in my class. One group was extremely cool: make-up, short skirts, boyfriends; you know! The other group was of hard-core nerds. They spent every moment of their life studying.

What I'm trying to say is that you don't have to be either extreme. You can have fun--awesome fun--in a safe way. You can stay in a modest place, and then you can totally rock out! 8th grade may be tough, and it may be easy. I admit, I don't know. But what I do know is that I'm gonna face it with a smile on my face!

School
by Kayla, age 16:

I do not like school. Seriously, it's hell. You have so much work to fit into a small amount of time. Sure, friends keep you occupied, but I still hate school.

The following comments were left before Nov. 2009, when creating a title was not yet an option:

Erika, age 12, writes:

Where I live, 8th grade is the first year of high school. I'm frightened. I want to fit in, and I... I don't know. I'm frightened because I don't want to lose my friends, I don't want to be embarrassed, and I don't want to be excluded from anything. I think many girls are thinking the same things, and that's a comfort to me.

Last year, I was in 7th grade. To those girls who are entering 7th grade: be yourself. Don't try to change your look during that time. You'll ened up in the middle groups, deciding which one is for you. For me, grade 7 was the year most kids were trying to find out where they fit in. Grade 8 might be like that, too, but I don't know. I think I've found me. I follow a line that goes a little like this: strive to be different! I want to make a difference. I want to be affected by my thoughts, not others'. I want to be me. I have to say the best advice I have for any girl going in to any grade is: be yourself. It'll make a whole better year.

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Sara, age 9, writes:

You may have new homework, new friends and enemies, and even some new teen stuff, but hold on to what you have. If you have good friends and good people around you, if you need help, they can help you. Hold on to what you hate.

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Ash, age 12, writes:

Last year was a tough year for me. I was in 6th grade. I have so much advice to give to someone in that grade! My advice is: always be yourself. This will probably be the worst year of your life. It was for me. You will be having some identity crisis stuff happening, there will be friend troubles, and there will be boy troubles. I know I sound like that same old person that keeps telling you to be yourself, be yourself, and, oh yeah, be yourself. Well, listen up! It's hard out there, and I realized I am myself no matter what! I mean, just because I wear a brand name one day and the next I wear a shirt from a thrift shop doesn't change the fact that I am me. I will always be me no matter what I wear or how I act.

Another thing: focus hard on your school work. In 7th grade, it counts for college. You need to be prepared for what is coming. Work hard at school!

If someone had told me one thing about the school year, I wish they would have said, "make sure you wash your face every day." I had bad acne in 6th grade, which hurt my self esteem. Make sure you wash your face every night and morning.

The questions I have about the upcoming school year are: "is the school work harder? Will I have more homework? Will the teachers like me? Will I have a boyfriend?" The answers to all of these are: yes.

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Camicuti97, age 12, writes:

Last year, I started 6th grade. I know those going into 6th grade are probably freaking out, wondering "OMG, how can I remember a combination? OMG, how can I remember a class schedule? OMG, how the heck am I supposed to find my way around the school?" because I freaked out, too.

Of course middle school takes some adjusting to, but you'll definitely adapt! More homework? Check. Tougher teachers? Check. But that doesn't mean that the homework can't be something FUN, like a poster, a game, creative writing, or no homework at all! And that doesn't mean the teachers can't be laid-back or super, super nice! All you have to do is step into middle school with an open mind, be prepared, ALWAYS go over your homework on the ride to school or even the night before, and try not to upset the teachers (it's called common sense!). :)

I wished someone had told me that in 6th grade, people are much more judgmental, especially about clothing. I had an argument with my mother about my clothes (Mom: "That dress I bought for you for school cost $100! It's so cute, with the puffy sleeves and the flowers. Why won't you wear it?" Me: "Mom, dresses are laaaaaame!"). But this year, I realized clothing doesn't exactly matter. In fact, I'm trying to wear more crazy, colorful, ME outfits this year.

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Lauren, age 12, writes:

School is awesome with friends as well as the guys in your class. They make it fun by making jokes and teasing you. But the best part about them is that they will always make school bearable with their jokes and teasing. Even though you might have that you are the one being teased at the time, you can still tease them right back with your smart wits that they don't have.

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Bunni, age 12, writes:

School is the most memorable part of your life. No matter how hard or awful you think one year is, looking back at it, you realize all you can see are the good times that are shining bright like stars in the sky on a clear night.

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Curlyhue, age 11, writes:

If you're going to middle school, it seems so hard in your head. Everyone tells you it will be easy, but don't believe them. Now you finally start Junior High. You get your schedule. You go to your first class late. You panic, wanting to cry, but the teacher says, "I'll give you a break." You went to all your classes and it seems like you have a month's worth or homework. You think, "I like elementary better!" Later you'll regret saying that. You try to find your best friend, but haven't got a class with her. You find her outside crying. You sit by her and she runs away. Life's not easy, but school is.

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Hannah, age 15, writes:

Last year I was in 9th grade. A word of advice to any SmartGirls who are freshmen this year: do your homework and study! Freshmen year counts just as much as senior year, so do your best. Also, don't expect to have a boyfriend just because you're in high school now or because there are a lot of cute seniors. Sometimes the upperclassmen want to go out with a girl for the wrong reasons.

Another important thing for you to remember is modesty. It sickens me when I see girls walking around school who don't bother to cover themselves. Trust me, looks aren't everything. You want a guy who likes you for you are, not what you look like on the outside.

Another thing: talk to people. Be outgoing. There was a new girl in my homeroom, and I really wanted to talk to her, but I didn't until we had to work together in German class. Now we're best friends. You never know who might turn out to be your new best friend. It doesn't matter if a person is popular or not, what kind of clothes they wear, or what they look like. Just talk to them and they will appreciate it.

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Ken<3, age 15, writes:

I just left the 9th grade, freshmen year. I think that you have to remember to be yourself. If you have classes with a lot of upperclassmen, they will make fun of you just because you are the "fresh meat." You need to remember that being yourself is what will make you "cool," not what other people think you should be.

Try hard in school. Be the "nerd." It will definitely be worth it in the long run! You will make friends, the good ones that will encourage you to do your best and be there for you when you need them the most.

One last thing: Drugs are not cool! They never will be! Just say no!

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Jaimi1999, age 10, writes:

I am in a new middle school that is 5th grade. 5th Grade is so scary. My teacher told me to bring a note to the library and I got lost. Now, one of my old friends is jealous just because I have two new friends. But I like school. When I found the library, it was full of my favorite books, so I may like school until high school.

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Sammy, age 11, writes:

Fifth grade. Sometimes I wonder how I survived the she-beast gossipers and the ugly man heartbreakers without a scratch. It happened, but how? I guess you need some help, so here it is:

- No matter what, stand up when something is wrong.
- Don't let peer pressure get to you.
- Enjoy it. Elementary school only lasts a couple of years, and when you hit middle school, you're gonna wish you were five years old again. So enjoy the easy work. 

So that’s my advice. Stick it to the man. Peer pressure is for losers. Enjoy it while you have it. But the number one rule is to follow your heart.

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