STO’s Declassified School Survival Guide

By: STO Talya Hammerman, Ridge Point HS, Troupe 7678, and STO Karis Klammer, Montgomery HS, Troupe 5986, and STO Brenna Kenney, Rouse HS, Troupe 7679

As the school year is coming to an end, we are so excited to welcome a whole new class of freshmen into our schools! Now, freshmen, we know that you are probably scared thinking about going to a bigger school, meeting new people, and having to try the cafeteria food, but have no fear because the STOs are here to answer all of your questions about high school! Below you will find the STO’s “Declassified School Survival Guide” (although you may be too young to understand that reference)!

• Will I find my soulmate in high school?

“Good question. To be honest, probably not. If you do, more power to you! From my experience and from what I've heard, about 10% of high school relationships last and are healthy. Best of luck to you though!” -Lia

• How mean are the teachers?

“About 98% of High School teachers aren’t mean. I think that most of your teachers you come across are going to be pretty normal, not mean or super nice. A couple of your teachers are going to make learning feel exciting and will genuinely care about you, but almost without fail, at least one of your teachers will either be on your neck or just not seem to care about teaching you. Regardless of the teacher, as long as you take care of your business, you should be fine.” -Gabe

• Where is the best place to have a mental breakdown? 

“Well my personal go-to place is my director’s office.” -Megan

• Are the school dances actually like in the movies?

“The school dances are not like they are in the movies. Do not get your hopes up too much, but you can still have a good time. It is all what you make it, just have a good time with your friends.” -Abi

• Are the classes hard?

“That depends on what route you take in high school. I personally went down the AP route to maintain a high GPA and keep my rank up high, so I’ve taken AP classes all throughout high school. If you end up doing what I did, then yes, the classes are hard, and you need to be willing to put time aside to study and learn the curriculum. AP classes aren’t easy, but if you study and are very thorough, I know you can do it!” -Avery

• Why does everyone say high school is like prison?

“I think people say that because of the monotony of it all combined with the power dynamic between administration and students. Also, you’re in for a specified amount of time and every day is effectively the same and you’re meant to be learning something but more often than not, you aren’t.” -Annie

• Is there anything positive about going to high school? 

“High School can be very intense when you’re juggling multiple extracurriculars & college-level classes, but in the end, it really pays off. Despite all the stress & late nights, you get to hold onto so many amazing memories and see how the disciple you put on yourself really helps you!” -Alyssa

• Is the cafeteria food really that bad? 

“Cafeteria food is good on some days and bad on others. I feel it just depends on what type of day you're having and how you feel, but at least you have options to put something in your belly.” -Cody

• Should I drink coffee to stay awake? 

“I am biased because I have an addiction to caffeine and a really bad tendency to procrastinate and then do everything at the last minute. But to answer Yes! I think you should, though personally I prefer energy drinks, coffee is a good alternative.” -Tyler

•  How bad are the bathrooms?

“Honestly, it depends on the restroom. I try to find ones that aren't used by a large portion of the student population and those tend to be pretty clean. However, I highly recommend staying away from bathrooms near the cafeteria because for some reason they are almost always gross.” -Maleah

•  Does the nurse only give out ice packs?

“The nurse will typically stick to ice packs. But if you are like me who is constantly prone to injury, you can sometimes get a band-aid with some Neosporin!” -Piper

•  Is 5 minutes really enough time to get to your classes?

“I think 5 minutes is long enough to get to our classes, but I feel like it's not long enough for us to use the bathroom or get a drink in between.” -Michael

• Do textbooks really weigh THAT much?

“In all honesty, I've only had to carry around one physical textbook during my entire duration in high school. A lot of textbooks are digital now, making them a lot easier to access and use. Even in the rare scenario that you do need a physical textbook, they aren't too heavy.” -Victoria

•  Is the cafeteria food better?

“It’s been a while since I’ve had Cafeteria food, but it’s never been my favorite. I’ve always preferred food from home.” -Marisa 

•  Can I do more than one extra-curricular activity?

“Depending on the activities, I would say yes. It’s always important to make sure you are not burning yourself out or else it will affect not only your grades but also your mental health which can greatly affect the extracurricular activities you are in.” -Olivia

•  Are off-periods just a myth?

“Once you are an upperclassman and have taken all of your important classes, you have the option of off-periods. They can be super helpful if you have a job, want more time for homework, or just don't want to take another class. Off-periods aren't just a myth. You just have to work hard so you have the option later in high school.”- Lillian

•  Do people actually get detention?

“No not at all, at least not at my school. Sometimes kids will do something to get detention on purpose so they can have a quiet place to go during lunch or after school.” -Jackson Layton

•  Do you actually have to keep an agenda?

“In my opinion, YES!! Agendas will save your life. When your days get busy, your agenda will have your back in helping to make sure you get everything done on time! KEEP AN AGENDA!!” -Campbell

•  Do you actually use calculus in real life?

“As a theatre kid, I've yet to use calculus in my everyday life. However, if you're going into a career that requires those skills then yes! You'd be surprised how many jobs require things like calculus, geometry, and physics.” -Karis

•  Is To Kill A Mockingbird really that life-changing?

“Yes! It’s a beautiful story and an even more beautiful play! Out of all the books I had to read during high school, To Kill A Mockingbird was definitely my favorite!” -Bradyn

•  When should I start worrying about college?

“The dramatic answer is freshman year. Starting high school you should focus on what classes can boost your GPA and also what classes will look good to colleges. Start making research of what colleges you want to apply to your junior year and what majors they can offer. The most important thing is to apply for scholarships! Do this as soon as you can!” -Elisa

• How fast can you letter in theatre?

“Letterman's are a rite of passage according to many high school students although most students are typically given them by their senior year after completing 3 years in a program or three years participating in UIL competition, differing from school to school.” -Jennica

• What officer positions are open to freshmen? 

“As a freshman, you can run to be Freshman Representative, Treasurer, Secretary, Historian, or Webmaster. Those are just a few of the positions, but they may change depending on what’s available in your troupe. The only positions not available to freshmen are Vice-President and President. However, if you start in one of the positions as a freshman, you can work your way up to President or Vice President by senior year!” -Jace 

•  Best way to prep for an audition 

“The best way to prep for an audition is to always be yourself. There are thousands of other people trying to be the next Sutton Foster or Jeremy Jordan, and there is only one you. Be yourself and not someone you are not!” -Jackson Barnes

•  Are the fights entertaining? 

“In the short run they're interesting, but you don’t want to see anyone get hurt.” -Caleb

•  Is driving a car scary? 

“At first, I was really terrified to drive, and I hated driving. Now, it’s so awesome because I can hang out with my friends and drive myself to all of my rehearsals!’ -Brenna

•  Do people skip class that often? 

“It depends on the people. It's mainly the upperclassmen though,  juniors and seniors, seeing as they can either drive home or are taking an easy filler class.” -Folarin

•  What the heck are thespian points? 

“As you enter your high school career you’re going to be hearing about a lot of new things, one being, Thespian points. Thespian points are points you earn by performing certain tasks in theatre like watching shows, going to workshops and so much more. You can earn distinctions and awards depending on how many points you get.” -Gonzalo

•  Can I be friends with upperclassmen? 

“Yeah, it’s pretty easy to become friends with upperclassmen. Just be yourself and it will be no trouble.” -Gentry

•  Is the dress code different?

“To be honest, the dress code isn't entirely different, but it is definitely more relaxed when it comes to enforcement. If you are on your administration's good side, you'll have no problem getting away with wearing a beanie or a shirt that slightly exposes your midriff.” -Talya

• What is one thing you regret NOT doing during your early years of high school?

“I regret not setting up good study habits and preparing myself for the larger workload I would be getting later on in high school. It is really important to work hard Freshman and Sophomore year, not only to set up good habits but also the grades you get then are the foundation of your GPA.”- Jarrett

There you have it: everything you could possibly need to know about high school (besides how to pass physics)! We hope this helped calm your nerves about high school and answered your most dire questions. We promise it’s not as scary as it looks in movies. The STOs wish you the best of luck in your high school endeavors, and now that you’ve read this blog, you are an expert on all things high school. If you have any more questions, let us know in the comments!

Break a Leg Freshmen,
Your 2020 & 2021 Texas State Thespian Officers