Surviving Middle School

Middle school. Junior high. Secondary school. Intermediate school. Whatever it is called where you live, it’s all the same and it’s not easy for anyone.

Think about it, half of you have made it through puberty while the other half hasn’t started. Girls are taller than boys. Acne has started. The braces cause a constant fear that part of your chicken sandwich from lunch is hanging out in your teeth. Hair is sprouting in areas that you now have to shave and don’t even get me started on having to change clothes for gym class.

Awkward. Uncomfortable. Gross. Stressful. And yet, it can’t be avoided. But the good news is that it can be conquered. Yes! You can survive middle school. I’m living proof!

It wouldn’t be fair of me to survive the most challenging point of my life and not offer up my best advice to all of you. In this video I’m getting real with you. Really real! I’m not talking about babysitting, I’m talking about life. Specifically, how to survive middle school. 

Today, we are going to take a break from talking about babysitting to talk about something else super important – mega important – earth-shattering important. I’m going to tell you how to survive middle school. You may call it junior high or something else, but we’re talking about the same thing. Now, some of you like me have already survived the hunger games. I mean, middle school.

For the rest of you, listen closely. Some of you may be getting advice from your parents about how to survive middle school. They mean well, but let’s face it. They went to middle school in a different century. No seriously, they actually went to middle school in a different century.

Suck it up!

So, here they are, my top five tips to help you survive the middle school years. Tip number one. Suck it up, buttercup. That was, that was kind of harsh. Let me put it this way. Some days are not going to be fun. Sometimes the homework will be unbearable, and your friends will be horrible to you. You know, the Navy Seals have a saying, get comfortable being uncomfortable. Now, I’ve never been through Navy Seal training, but I’m pretty sure it’s worse than your pre-algebra test. So, take a cue from the Navy Seals – get out of bed, put on your big girl pants, and tackle every day like it’s a mission you’ve trained for your whole life. You will get through it.

Don’t always expect the worst.

Tip number two. Believe it or not, some days will actually be fun. What do you know? So, quit expecting everything to be awful. Join that club or go to that school dance. Get involved with something because sitting at your home while your little brother and his friends have a burping contest in the next room, is not fun.

Friendships may change.

Tip number three. Your friends may change a lot in the next couple of years. Some friends may drift away from you. Try not to take it personally. You’re still an awesome unicorn. Some friends may turn into people you don’t really like anymore, and you’ll be the one drifting away. But you’ll make new friends, too.

Always be friendly.

Tip number four. Speaking of friends, you don’t have to be friends with everybody. But you should be friendly with everybody. Basically, it’s bad karma to be nasty to other people. Plus, you’ll earn the reputation of being a nasty person. So do yourself a favor and be kind to your fellow middle school sufferers.

Take a break from your phone.

Tip number five. Homework is going to get a lot harder, so when you need to focus on something, put your phone down. I know it’s hard for me too. But if you have a big test in the morning, snapchatting photos of you studying probably is interfering with you actually studying. There, that doesn’t sound so bad, does it?

Follow these tips and middle school will be over before you know it. Peace out and may the odds be ever in your favor.