Things I’d tell my grade 9 self
Starting high school can feel like a lot. We asked Ontario students what they’d go back and tell their grade 9 self, and here’s what they said, in their own words.
It’s only four years, just get ‘er done.
That’s how one Ontario student summed it up. It’s honest, it’s a little funny and it’s true: grade 9 can feel huge in the moment, but it’s also just the beginning. Before you know it, you’ll be looking back and wondering where the time went.
Be brave and put yourself out there
Do what you want to do, whether that’s joining choir or participating in clubs, and pursue it even if your peers don’t want to. Be brave, be prepared to face new experiences and embrace the awkward moments because they can help you grow and make lasting memories.
Grade 9 is often the first time you’re meeting a whole new group of people who’ll be around for the next few years. The good news is that plenty of people in grade 9 are in the same boat – eager to make new friends – which makes it a great time to put yourself out there. A few students said versions of the same thing: don’t count anyone out too early.
I would tell myself to not be closed off to new friends! Some of the people you judged before could become your best friends!
Try to meet new people. High school is so much easier when you’re comfortable with different people – that way you don’t have to sit alone in class or study by yourself.
Build your support system
Friends aren’t the only relationships worth investing in.
It’s important to build relationships with your teachers. If you ever need extra help or time on a project, it really helps if you already have that positive relationship built with them. They also seem to be more understanding if you keep communicating.
And as one student put it simply:
Friends = connections = trust = overall increased enjoyment.
Learning is more than a grade
A few students wanted their younger selves to know that school is about more than marks.
Focus on three things, in no particular order: physical health, mental health and social health. Good grades are important, but not at the expense of physical, mental or social health.
One bad test or one not-awesome grade does not define you. It’s so easy to let a bad grade feel like the end of the world, but it doesn’t define who you are.
Set yourself up for success
The most-repeated advice was surprisingly practical.
Also, PLEASE know how to open a lock before you attend high school!!!
Locker combinations aside, students had real strategies for making the first few weeks feel less overwhelming.
Set up plans for your first day before you get to school. Try to figure out your routes to class, and who you may be sitting with. It takes a lot of guesswork out of the day and helps you feel more calm and prepared.
Practice time management skills and build good study habits before you even get to high school. It is not fun studying for a test at three in the morning.
I try to be as productive as possible during the school day, like working on homework during class, so I can minimize what I have to do at home. That way, I have more time to hang out with friends.
Taking breaks was important. I used to think you had to work constantly to succeed, but taking breaks is what helped me balance it all.
There’s no single right way to get through your first year of high school. But learning how other students got through theirs – awkward moments, locker combos and all – might make yours feel a little less overwhelming. 😊
This post is built directly from student submissions collected through the Thrive “Things I’d tell my Grade 9 self” activity. Quotes are anonymous and lightly edited for spelling/clarity only.