Vivienne Grant - Contributed

Making the transition to high school can be a daunting task for any student. Along with upholding the academic standards, the social adjustment is quite a challenge for the average student.

Here are five things your child can do to survive high school, provided by Vivienne Grant, a teacher at Jamaica College.

1. Observe, then act.

Observe fellow students and the adults in the school environment. This will be the medium through which friendships will evolve.

Do not befriend the bully. Doing so is no protection from him/her. Bullies can't help themselves, they will eventually apply their tactics to you. Avoid them.

There is no rule requiring students to like all their teachers. Establish cordial relationships. Absorb the knowledge.

2. Listen to your loved ones. While at school, develop the ability to hear the admonitions of parents/guardians and the adults with whom you are close. I can still hear the voice of my father: "Follow teacher, you wi' learn."

3. Set your standards.

This is not an adult activity. The average child has done it several times. You most definitely set your standards of dress and transportation. God forbid that you should be seen wearing dirty sneakers or wearing your jeans pants waist high (which is 'under your arms') with shirt tails tucked in. Just as how you can set standards for your appearance, the same can be done for your academics. Aim for high percentages; if you fall a bit lower, you will neither be mediocre nor consistently failing. Do not be left behind. Never be afraid to say you do not know.

Every morning/afternoon, as you enter the gate of your school, renew your focus. Ask yourself: "why am I here?", "What must I achieve today?" Try this; after a while it will become as easy as breathing.

4. Avoid distractions. A focused student will identify persons and activities that will be detrimental to his/her tenure in high school. Carrying weapons, practising truancy ('sculling'), visiting marijuana-smoking dens are avenues that will lead you away from pursuing an education. Be yourself. Your peers should know you on your terms. This will help you to resist peer pressure.

5. Socialise.

Be open to meeting people from many different social backgrounds. Be willing to understand and appreciate the differences in all of us.

Vivienne Grant is a trained teacher in the field of history and English. She has been teaching at Jamaica College for more than 30 years and is the author of 'From dreams to Reality', a compilation of poems. Email her at viverge@hotmail.com.

POSITIVE Parenting