Sage Advice for Students : Tips to Get Along, Get Ahead and Get Past the First Few Days, From Some Seasoned Experts

Are your kids nervous about the first day of school?

Even if they’ve already loaded their backpacks with those brand-new supplies and picked out what they’re going to wear, they might have a case of the jitters. And it can be worse if they’re moving up or transferring to a new school.

First grade can seem a bit scary after kindergarten, and middle school may look like a huge jump from grade school. And what about that first day of high school, with all those mighty seniors around?

For advice to kids on how to get through those crucial first days, The Times asked Orange County students of all ages to share their wisdom and experience. Here’s what they suggest for those entering grade school, middle school or high school:

FACTS FOR FIRST GRADE:

“Don’t be afraid. And make friends so you’ll have a lot of fun.” Michelle Phee, 8, of Lake Forest; Glen Yermo Elementary.

“Be nice to everyone because you want all the kids to be your friends. Also work hard. My teacher said that is the most important thing.” Dennis Nguyen, 6, of Westminster; Muir Fundamental.

“If you get into trouble on the playground, there’s always teachers or supervisors watching, so come to them, and they always have a very nice answer.” Sara Fox, 9, of Yorba Linda; Travis Ranch Elementary.

“Try not to start things at the last minute. One time I turned in a project late, and I got a C-. And sometimes if you are late with something they make you skip a recess.” Christina Huapaya, 10, of Tustin; Arroyo Elementary.

“It’s OK because everybody’s nice. No one’s mean to you.” Kelsey Paulino, 7, of Aliso Viejo; Foxborough Elementary.

“Make sure and ask questions, and make sure to wear a uniform so you won’t get sent back home. Make sure you do your work because if you don’t, you’ll get bad grades and won’t be able to go to college or get a job.” Tracy Adams, 11, of Anaheim; Mattie Lou Maxwell Elementary.

“It’s just like home, but you’re not with your mom, you’re with your friends.” Jenny Phee, 10, of Lake Forest; Glen Yermo Elementary.

“Always do your best and make lots of friends, and get good grades so you can go on to the next grade level.” Amanda Skolburg, 7, of Placentia; John O. Tynes Elementary.

METHODS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL:

“First impressions are big. You’ve got to kind of kiss up because you want to be on the most popular people’s good side right away, or they’ll make your year, like, really bad.” Christina Peschelt, 14, of Newport Beach; Ensign Intermediate.

“Try to have fun while you can. I think it gets harder in high school.” Garrick Arostigue, 13, of Santa Ana; Carr Intermediate.

“Even if you want everybody to think you’re cool, you shouldn’t try, because it’s going to get you in trouble. A lot of kids try to act really tough, but it can cause conflict, and then they want to fight or get into arguments, which can be explosive. You don’t want to be in those circumstances.” Anthony Rodriguez, 13, of Buena Park; Buena Park Junior High.

“You should probably get books ahead to look things up. Study and do some homework before school starts.” Bryce Horn, 13, of San Clemente; Our Lady of Fatima School.

“Get involved in a lot of stuff like after-school sports, and attend the dances, and you’ll avoid any trouble. And if you get involved, you’ll make a lot of new friends, and you’ll feel more comfortable.” Kimberly Redman, 13, of Brea; Brea Junior High.

“Set a goal and stick to that goal and never stop. I had a goal to stay in school and to be there every day. I stuck to it, even though sometimes I wasn’t feeling very good and my mom made me go. But in the end, it was really cool because I got this big award for outstanding achievement in attendance. I was there every day for seven years.” Michael Popp, 12, of Cypress; Brethren Christian Junior High.

“Pay attention to the teacher, and take a lot of notes. It’s not really hard.” Andrea Gregrow, 12, of Lake Forest; Serrano Intermediate.

“Stay organized. Don’t wait until the last minute to start projects because your parents will get mad.” Allison Holmes, 13, of Orange; Santiago Middle School.

“Have fun in school, get involved in school activities, and set aside time to do your homework. . . . By getting involved in school you learn more, you make new friends, and you’re bettering your life.” Ray Ibarra, 12, of Cypress; Lexington Junior High.

“Everyone is scared when they’re going to a new school. I know that I was scared when I was going to Parks Junior High School. But everyone is really friendly, and you’ll make tons of friends if you don’t feel confined to the group of friends you already have. I also think it’s important to be involved. . . . No matter what you enjoy doing, there’s always a club, committee or sports team to join.” Whitney Florin, 14, of Fullerton; Sunny Hills High.

HINTS FOR HIGH SCHOOL:

“For the first week, stay out of the seniors’ way because they will pick on you. Get involved in activities from the beginning because it looks great on your record. And start studying right away because high school is a lot harder than junior high.” Patrick Warden, 16, of Orange; El Modena High.

“If you mess up now, you can mess up your whole life. Just try your best, but ultimately just have fun.” Steve Wrathall, 17, of La Habra; Sonora High.

“Stay away from the older kids, and don’t try to be too cool.” Greg Burger, 15, of Lake Forest; El Toro High.

“Be yourself, and don’t worry about what other people think because it really doesn’t matter. Also, get involved with something, like Key Club or ASB, because that’s where you’ll meet your close friends.” Megan Faulkner, 17, of Costa Mesa; Estancia High.

“You should expect to look out for yourself. It’s a whole different world in high school. There’s a bunch of changes. But you get a lot of new friends.” Caleb Jones, 17, of Laguna Hills; Silverado High.

“Focus on school. I slacked off my freshman year, and now I’m a senior and I’m taking seven classes. You can have your social life after school.” Grace Akui, 17, of Garden Grove; Garden Grove High.

“Be nice to your teachers, because they will make or break you. And if you don’t like them, don’t let them know. Also, bring your lunch--but not in a lunch pail.” Joaquin Soto, 17, of Orange; Orange High.

“Don’t worry; it’s not that hard. It’s not what people make it out to be.” Mark Eld, 15, of Lake Forest; El Toro High.

“You should read. It doesn’t matter what you read--newspapers or books. But the more you read, the better you’re going to get at it. That’s one of the weak points high school students have. They don’t read in their spare time, so they’re not good readers.” Lanny Krage, 17, of Anaheim; Loara High.