What’s up, it’s Mack, the “Greatest of All Time” and the coolest dude on the world wide web. How cool? Cooler than a refrigerated Sprite. Cooler than New York in the winter. Cooler than a Soundcloud rapper with Clout goggles on. That cool.

What’s even cooler is that I just finished my freshman year of high school. The year was filled with ups and downs, highs and lows, and surmountable obstacles; however, I conquered them all. Now you, a new breed, will enter the realm called freshman year, and I have given myself the task to provide you with as much advice as I can to get you ready for this new level. So now ladies and gentleman, I present you to, the one, the only “Mack’s Declassified: 9th Grade Survival Guide.” 

DON’T GO INTO FRESHMAN YEAR THINKING YOU’RE THE SHHH…

Just don’t. I know a lot of people coming from 8th grade going into 9th grade who thought as soon as they walked through the doors of their new high school, they’d be running the whole thing. Don’t go out this way. I can promise you as soon as the first bell rings, there’s going to be someone bigger and more experienced than you, so thinking you can run things will never work. 

FIND GOOD FRIENDS

If your friends aren’t pushing you to do your work, then they’re not really your friends. The friends you have in high school should motivate you to do better while doing well themselves. I finished both of my two semesters with a 4.0 GPA, and there is no way that would’ve been possible if it wasn’t for my group of friends. There are multiple ways to push yourselves and make sure you all succeed. A method we did was what we called the “split-work” method, which is self-explanatory. If you’re splitting the homework up, your load is lightened.

DO NOT PROCRASTINATE

I’ll just start off by saying procrastination is by far the stupidest thing to do your freshman year. People say freshman year is the most important year of high school, so what’s the point of spending it not caring and laying around? Start the year off strong — that way you can finish it stronger. Make sure you start your work as soon as you get it, and most definitely turn all your work in ON TIME.

GET COOL WITH YOUR TEACHERS

This is one of the most important survival tactics that I, the G.O.A.T, can give you. When your friends can’t help you, your teachers can give you the information you need. That’s what they get paid to do anyway. Just a simple, “How was your day?” can go a long way with them. Believe it or not, getting cool with your teachers can be the difference between an A and a B. If you’re really pushing for it, the teacher could possibly supply you with the extra credit you need. Just make sure you get your work done, of course. Relationships with teachers can also provide you with extra-curricular opportunities that colleges look for, like internships.

DON’T FOCUS ON RELATIONSHIPS

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Love is in air and all that, but your grades are, too. Your freshman year should be about kicking your first year of high school off with a bang, and although a relationship may be nice, it’s not necessary. You have literally the rest of your life to look for a soulmate, so don’t freakin do it in the 9th grade.

FIND YOUR OWN “TEEN SPIRIT”

I hope you caught my Kurt Cobain reference. High school is a perfect time to figure out who you are, as everything is changing and you are developing. What is important is that you make sure you’re doing you the whole time. Being like everyone else is overrated, anyway. People will try and change you, but it’s best if you don’t let them. You do you. If you’re comfortable with yourself, then freshman year will be a breeze. Don’t be a follower of the wave; being a black sheep or the outlier is the way to go. Trying to be like everyone else is so overrated and hurts more than helps.

Mack is starting his sophomore year North Atlanta High School. He is a fan of all music genres, however finds himself most inspired by Kurt Cobain.