Good morning.

So you’re done with elementary school. It might seem like you’re all grown up and there’s just so much that you know how to do, and so many things you know. If you do think so, you’re not entirely wrong. You’re definitely smarter than you were when you started kindergarten, and I bet you’re even more knowledgeable now than you were at the beginning of this year. However that doesn’t mean you know all there is to know. There’s still so much for you to learn, and starting middle school is only the very beginning.

I’m not trying to scare you. This information is key to doing the best you can in an environment where different and more challenging things are expected of you. But if you’re a little weary, here are some points to remember:

1. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. You might be afraid to ask questions and seek out other people’s opinions because it might seem like you’re being weak, or God forbid, stupid. This isn’t how it is at all. When you ask for help, you’re opening yourself up to other’s viewpoints and opinions. When you do that, you become exposed to more ideas and solutions, some of which you might not have even come up with on your own. In essence, not asking questions or asking for help when you need it is the dumber thing to do.
2. Friends come and go, so it’s best to be able to be comfortable with yourself. If you’re comfortable with who you are first, it’s easier to be stronger in what you believe, and respect yourself and those around you.
3. You might not like it when I say it, but LISTEN TO YOUR PARENTS! They have your best interests in mind, even if you don’t think so. This brings me to my next point:
4. Always think of your actions in terms of long-term consequences. Sure, staying up all night playing video games or watching Vines and Youtube videos might seem more attractive than studying for a math test or doing your homework, but it isn’t the right thing to do because it will hurt you in the future.
5. Also, get rid of bad habits as soon as you notice them. The longer you wait to correct them, the harder it is for you to stop them when you really need to.
6. Lastly, you will mess up sometimes. And that’s okay. Everyone does it, and everyone will. Middle school is the beginning of self discovery, and there will be awkward and embarrassing moments. There’s nothing you can do about that. But the key is to learn from these moments and use them in the future to make better decisions.

Also, don’t forget to have fun. Middle school is at a different level than what you are used to, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy where you’re at while growing as a person to become the best version of yourself.

Thank you.