Many people tend to base their opinions upon messages portrayed by the media, regardless of their validity. As such, some students have preconceived notions of high school society before they even begin their first day of classes.

Any movie or television show that portrays high school students is bound to have a few similar scenes. A classic example is “the hallway scene,” in which characters are typically shown holding lengthy conversations between classes. In reality, there isn’t much time to talk while navigating the hallways. As you probably understand, there’s little time to shoot the breeze without arriving late to class. It’s fine to stop and chat for a bit, but time is key.

Another important “scene” to discuss is the classroom. In most actor portrayals, the teacher is a drone that rambles on while students chat casually in the back of the classroom. While every class may not have you on the edge of your seat, a teacher’s input is valuable and even critical to your success. Concentrating and staying focused will keep you on your teacher’s good side.

The social aspect of high school is highlighted most by the media, and to many people this is the most important part of the high school experience. High school is typically shown as being a horribly divided place where different groups only come in contact through conflict. While cliques do exist, they are not as rigid as they seem to be. Everyone is free to associate themselves with whomever they please. Believe it or not, everyone more or less manages to get along.

Finally, the most important thing to do in high school is to just be yourself. Remember, no matter how perfect someone seems to be, on the inside he is just like everybody else. To quote Emilio Estevez’s character in The Breakfast Club, “We’re all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it.”