With seniors winding down their high school career, The Red Ledger’s Darby Blaylock shares her 50 hints on how to make it through grades 9-12.

1. If you don’t want the whole school seeing it, don’t send it.
2. If you don’t want the whole school hearing about it, don’t tweet it.
3. Dress well; test well.
4. Don’t one strap it, really, don’t. Don’t have a cross body or satchel. It causes back problems
5. You can never have too many big t-shirts.
6. It’s okay for everything to not be okay.
7. You will learn who your true friends are.
8. But mostly who your true friends aren’t.
9. Be thankful for all those mean and difficult people, they show us exactly what you don’t want to be.
10. Never stop doing your best just because someone doesn’t give you credit.
11. Heartbreaks will happen. And you will survive! Trust me, you will live.
12. Make friends with the school resource officer.
13. His favorite drink from Sonic is a Route 44 Diet Coke.
14. If you are planning on starting a food fight.. DON’T.
15. Sign up for all the ACT and SAT tests you possibly can.
16. Coffee becomes its own food group.
17. You don’t have to wear makeup to school everyday.. please don’t.
18. Go to as many school sporting events as you can.. you’re going to miss this.
19. Restrict yourself to going to Sonic three times a week before school. Anymore than that, you will go broke.
20. Do not cram for a test, it doesn’t work.
21. Bring headphones to class EVERYDAY. You will regret it if you don’t.
22. Change can be good.
23. Tardies matter… Thursday night school sucks.
24. Treat people how you want to be treated, with that being said, if they don’t treat you with respect, they aren’t worth your time.
25. Planners are good, and so are coloured pens.