The hardest part of the whole school year has to be the difficult transition from summer to school. Everyone has to start waking up early to begin learning again, which can be a very stressful change. After spending the whole summer relaxing, students have to get back to work, both physically and mentally. Sometimes even the teachers have a tough time adjusting. During your time off, it is very important that you prepare for any upcoming academic assignments. There are many things you can do over the summer to keep your brain in shape, or even get ahead of the class. Here are some tips to get you started:

• Do Your Summer Homework: Most students think that the summer reading and homework assignments are just boring and may not even be graded or mentioned in class. However, getting certain things done can give you a feel for your new classes and even get you to learn some exciting new things.

“I recommend that everyone stay on top of their work and not let it pile up,” senior Raquel Braun said. Sometimes people have the opportunity to read a really good book over the summer and get to write about it in class. Summer homework is one of the best tools for you to get ready for the school year. Whether you enjoy it or not, it will surely serve as some kind of preparation.

• Find Some Extra Practice Online: Another great way to get ready for the school year is to find some extra practice for the subjects you are planning to take. While looking around for one type of packet, you may stumble upon one that you enjoy, or you feel helps you the most. There are also many online sites that you can learn from while having fun. That way, you will be more than prepared for any work to come. You may even find yourself taking a test on something you already learned all on your own.
• Wake Up Earlier: During the summer, everyone likes sleeping in as much as possible. However, as the school year gets closer, you should begin to start off your day a little earlier than usual. This doesn’t mean you have to get up at six in the morning and start doing some summer work. Just practice waking up to your alarm and stay active during the day. An immediate transition from waking up late to waking up early could possibly impair the quality of your schoolwork.

“Try to start going to sleep earlier and waking up earlier. This will help prevent sleep deprivation,” senior Camila Lupi said. Over time, your body will wake you up naturally and become more accustomed to an early start. Getting physically ready for the school year will be very beneficial in the long run.

• Have a Good Attitude: Upon exiting your glorious summer and entering the dreadful school year, it is extremely important to have a good attitude. Most students actually avoid any talk of school during their vacation, but the school year will still come and bring new friends and experiences. Just think about all the cool new things you will learn during the school year and set some goals you want to achieve. If you go into school with a negative attitude, it will all go down hill. There are plenty of things you can enjoy and strive for during the school year. Yes, it will be hard and sometimes you will feel no hope, but just focusing on the positive can make your school day, and year, a million times better.