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Every year, the seniors of the West Forsyth newspaper staff publish their “Senior Articles” in the final issue of the Zephyr. After three long years of being on the staff, my time has finally come to do the same. In listening to my classmates reminisce, I began to reflect on my time in high school myself. As a result, I came up with some do’s and don’ts of high school that will (hopefully) make your four years a little better.

Do print out a map for your first week of school — Any high school can be confusing and maze-like, but West has a particularly intricate campus with its outdoor design. For incoming freshmen, a map is especially handy while getting to know the school’s layout.

Don’t bring every binder every day — You may think you need every class’ materials at all times, but trust me, you really don’t. If you don’t have a class one day, just leave the materials at home. It makes life so much easier; your backpack isn’t as heavy and doesn’t stick out as much, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally ramming into people.

Do pack snacks, even if you eat at the cafeteria — The school day consists of four hour-and-a-half periods, which gets really long really fast. It’s always smart to pack a few snacks to have in between classes or even in class (as long as you check with your teacher first). It can really help the day go by faster and give you extra energy to get through the day.

Do keep a change of clothes on you — This one can be harder for underclassmen who don’t drive to school, but even stuffing an extra shirt into your backpack can come in super handy. You never know when you’re going to spill something or slip in the mud or get too hot; if you have something in case of emergency, you’ll never be caught in a jam.

Don’t procrastinate — I know this one is hard, but take it from me, a serial procrastinator, that the hour you will spend each night doing your homework on time will be much less painful than the six you would be putting in the night before. Your future self will thank you.

Do get to know your teachers — Your teachers are people too! And, believe it or not, they genuinely care about your wellbeing! So, get to know them; most teachers are pretty cool if you give them a chance. Plus, these are the people that will someday be writing your recommendations for college. So, remember, while you’re getting to know them, they’re getting to know you too.