To Those Who Know Pain

Tip 04--Surviving School

School, one of the toughest things to go through nowadays. Adults don't understand what it's like now, with different cyberbullying, different means and forms and attacks with pain--they never were bullied like that. But I just finished high school. So here are some of my effective tips. Hence the effective and not some sappy "get through it" tips. They will work.

1) Focus on education.

Boring, right, when you hear the words square route and calculus, your brain shuts right off. I'm not saying try in the learning part in school because grades are a good thing (which they are, that's only a good side effect). I'm saying try in school because it works your brain into distracting yourself from real life. Yes, you probably won't need to know cosigns and that stuff unless you pursue a career in that. Just try to do school and focus less on the kids. 

Benefits? Your parents will notice your grades going up, you'll feel like you achieved something. Getting good grades is one thing that adults think that means you're getting your life together. It's not, but it makes people believe that you are really trying. And it will make you think you're doing better to (because you are if you do). It will encourage you to do better and you'll have something to look forward to. Speaking of:

2) Try different things.

Before I found poetry to let out my frusturations, I had nothing. I didn't know who I was and I never felt imprtant. I felt worthless, I felt like I didn't have a point. But to actually like the life you're living, well, find what you honestly love. Even if you think you've found it, that's probably not it. You'll find something you want to do all day. And I love writing on Wattpad because of that very reason. I love helping others, I love writing, I love all this. 

Examples: poetry / making videos / musician / books / drawing / painting / sports / etc. You'll find that "thing". And that will make you want to do that more.

3) Ignore society.

All that stuff about getting into school clubs, trying out for a team? Don't. There's a slim chance you'll be accepted into any of those groups; society can be a bitch. What you really want to do is stray away from anything that can expose you to be somebody you aren't, look at you in a different way, embarass you, etc. Don't keep your friends close but enemies closer. In fact, I recommend you stay away from people you aren't comfortable with.

It will take a while, but eventually you'll have one person that won't judge you or backstab you or anything. They might not be a best friend. but enough to that you won't be called "loner" or any names along with that. Society wants you to help, but helping will make you vulnerable to things that will stop any progress of getting over school. 

4) Enjoy.

When you're not at school, find some things you love. It will get your mind off anything in school. Do homework, but don't stress out! Find a project that you can twist so that you actually like it. I once did a project about bullying, and I recorded a song w. piano for the project. I liked making the song, I liked it. You need to enjoy some things and turn it so that you like it instead of waiting for somebody to turn it around for you. 

It's sad, but the more you stop enjoying things, the less people enjoy you. Don't get involved in society, but smile. Smiling can mask your pain and it is clinically proven to help your mood (no matter how little is changes it) but if you smiles even a bit, it releases a certain chemical that changes your mood to happy. Also enjoy other things too, like take a daily walk by the park or go skip rocks or do something you like. Enjoying will help you and everybody around you.

5) Regulate your environment.

Too hot? Get to a fan or a breeze. Too cold? Grab a sweater. Temperature affects our moods and if in school you're too hot or cold you'll have troubles dealing with problems and do things you wouldn't necessarily do before. Make sure you're comfortable and relaxed at all times. 

Or, do the complete opposite. Sometimes school can be so hard. For example: you're shy. You barely talk. You need some motivation, something that angers you and can boost your confidence to do something out of your comfort zone. Let's say you go outside when you're frozen (just don't get hyperthermia, that sucks) and you slap somebody because your body is stressed. That will relieve anger. Sure, there will be guilt, and probably a talk with the pricipal or your parents, but does that really matter when you are barely getting through school? No. Just don't get yourself arrested.

6) Chide yourself.

Tell yourself that you have only a couple years left more of enduring school, and then it will all be over. Think about the future. Whenever I do something really hard, or when everybody else does, it helps to think of what will happen when you're done. School is like a race. You get tired after sprinting through it, and you may want to drop out, you may be last place, but everybody will finish it. Think of how proud you'll be when school is done. 

Tell yourself all this, and you'll feel better. Going to get a drivers liscence? Scared? Just think of what will happen after you get it. Entering a school competition? Nervous? Think of how exciting you'd be if you won. Just don;t get your hopes up too much or that will sting. 

Don't be a pessimist. Don't be an optimist. Be a realist.

Okay, so here are some of my tips. I hoped they helped you somehow. In a tiny way, at least. 

~Anne