HOW TO DEAL WITH MIDDLE SCHOOL
By: Katelyn, 13, (aka Supergirl142)

1. "There will be so much more work than in elementary school! I’ll be up until midnight every night doing homework!": This is totally not true. Yes, there will be more work than you had in elementary school, but not that much more. You will most likely have more projects and reports, but it’s nothing you can’t handle. Besides studying for tests, I usually only have about one hour of homework every night and sometimes even less! The thing is, you’re getting older, and the teachers treat you that way by expecting that you work a little harder than you did in elementary school. Overall, it’s really not that hard and you’ll do totally fine!
    
2. "All of my friendships will change and I could end up friendless!" : Okay, so you might not graduate from eighth grade with the same friends you walked into school with on the first day of sixth grade, but you won’t be friendless. For example, I had been in a group of friends since the second and third grades, but when I got to sixth grade, I ended up having problems with that group and now I have a new group of awesome friends. The key is to make sure you have a lot of good friends so you always have someone to turn to. The way to make friends is to join sports and clubs. I joined this one club at my school and even made friends with some kids who were a year older than me. We had a blast, and I can’t wait to join them in high school next year!
    
3. "I might not remember my locker combination or get lost in the school, and then I’ll be late for class!": This one is so easy! Just write your combination down in your assignment book, folder, binder, or something you carry to every class, and look at it if you get stuck. Carry a map of the school around with you until you know your way around. And, don’t be afraid to ask an older kid for help. Most of them are really nice and helpful!
    
4. "I just met this boy, and now I have a huge crush on him!": Trust me, I’ve been there before! I met this one boy when I was in sixth grade and the boy was in seventh. He was really smart, cute, and funny, and I ended up liking him for a year and a half! (I still think he’s pretty cool...) Anyway, I never told him that I liked him, but if you want to, you should. Also, be careful if you want to tell a friend about it, because once the secret’s out, you never know what will happen. In conclusion to that, don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation with him. Get to know him better and show him the true you. Don’t try to be someone you’re not, because it will backfire! If doesn’t like you when you’re yourself, he’s not worth going after.

So, now you know all about what middle school will be like! It can be a tough time for you, but it can also be great! Remember that life’s what you make it, so make your middle school years the time of your life!