A Jaded Set of Skills

     When I think about when I went into high school, I get this picture from Ned's Declassified. You know, the TV show about those kids who give everyone advise about going though high school? Most students who enter high school think that their life is already over, or they are undefeatable.  Also,  most students come in with a jaded set of goals, or think that there are certain things they need in order to succeed. However, none of this is true when going through high school.
     Most people think that who their friends are, and how reckless they are is what matters the most. They think, "Yeah, if I go to this party, and get super drunk then people will like me." Also, if they hang out with the kids that party they will look cool as well. In reality, the only thing that hanging with the party kids will get you is a big ole guilty by association tag. If a kids friends get caught smoking pot, then you can bet your bottom dollar that everyone will think that that kid smokes pot too, even if they never have. It's a simple rule that my parents have told me since I was in elementary school: You are guilty whether or not you committed the crime. Having the right relationships in high school are essential to maintaining a good reputation, and minimizing rumors, and drama.
     Wiki How created a "5 Ways to Survive High School" article, and the first and most essential thing is to "Develop the Right Relationships." Make friends with everyone! Don't settle for only one group of people to be friends with. Having a diverse friend group ensures that you will always have someone to hang out with. Also, be friends with people who can teach you things. Befriend a musician, a writer, a mathlete, AND  a member of student council. These people can help you find what you are interested in doing. The most important relationships to have, is with your teachers. Develop a strong relationship with a few of your teachers, and you will succeed academically while you are in high school. You don't need to have their class every single year, but you can always go ask them for help when you don't understand what you learned, or even use their classroom when you need to study. Also, don't suck up to your teachers, but be cordial. Most teachers hate it when students are kissing butt just to get a good grade.
     These relationships are what will lift and carry you through high school. Having crappy relationships, and hanging out with people who constantly start drama is not what you want in high school. It sucks when you are constantly having to sort things out or pick sides in arguments between your friends. That's why developing many good and healthy relationships will keep you out of the drama circle. It also will help you strive to better yourself, and won't make you slack off on your academics. To see the other 4 ways to survive high school, you can check out the article here, http://www.wikihow.com/Survive-High-School