Year 7

Everyone telling you you’ll be a tiny fish in a big pond?

Starting Year 7 in September? Read on for the lowdown, of what to expect and how to cope.

You might feel ready to leave your primary school, all those annoying little people running around in the playground screaming and chasing imaginary friends and unicorns. But do you actually feel ready to start at ‘big school’? You may have heard the phrase “you’re going from being a big fish in a little pond to a tiny fish in a big one”.

What will it be like? Will you be able to find your way round? Will you miss the bus? Will you make new friends? Will you remember your timetable? What will the canteen be like? What will the teachers be like? And the dreaded homework!

STOP RIGHT THERE! DON’T PANIC. EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY.

Every single other person in your new school (that isn’t in year 7) will have had similar feelings to you when they first started. The majority of your fellow year 7’s will also feel like you (even if they don’t act like it!).

Don’t stress about getting lost

You may have been on a pre-start visit or maybe you missed it. But rest assured that NO Year 7 will be able to find their way to the science block in the first few weeks, and teachers expect that, so try not to get stressed if you get lost. You will probably get a planner or a map so don’t be afraid to whip it out and work out how to get to where you are supposed to be.

Just Be Yourself

That might sound silly, but don’t try and be anything you’re not. Be yourself, and you will gravitate to the people who are similar to you or that like the same things as you, that’s how we make new friends. Don’t worry if you don’t buddy up with a new bestie on day one. Friendships take time and effort to build and keep.

Be Prepared

Check your timetable in the evening before bed and get any books or things ready that you need the next day, then don’t think about it anymore because you know you are prepared. Don’t leave it until you are supposed to already be at the bus stop but are still eating your weetabix panicking about where your PE kit is!

Get dressed BEFORE going on any electronics in the morning. This will save you being shouted at by stressed parents/carers and will give you more time to chill before walking to the bus stop or getting into the car.

Try and eat some breakfast, if there’s nothing in the fridge or cupboard at home for you to eat let your form tutor or a pastoral worker at school know.

Find Supportive People in School

Find out who and when your ‘Health Services In School Youth Worker’ is in your school. These are very cool, kind, patient, knowledgeable and reliable Youth Workers who can support you with anything that you have got going on in your life. Their work confidentially so unless they feel you or someone else is at risk of serious harm they won’t share anything that you talk about.

You might have a school nurse or first aider that you really like, or a lunchtime member of staff. You will have a form tutor and probably a head of year that you can speak to if you are struggling with things, it is part of their job to make sure you are in the best way to learn so let them know if you need some help.

Join some clubs or lunch time activities

If you are finding it hard at lunch or break time, or if you are lonely or feeling overwhelmed when you are not in lessons (schools are big places), go to the library, or chess club, or craft club, or footie training, or join the School Litter picking group or Gaming design club or the school council. There will always be something to do, and you will meet other people who might be feeling the same way.

Speak up

The most important thing is that if you feel like you are stuck, struggling, not coping or are really unhappy that yuo tell a trusted adult. Tell your parent or carer, or nana, or neighbour, tell the school nurse or your HSIS worker. Don’t hold back, there is always a solution to these things when you ask for help.