Stories

The dos and don’ts of middle school:

A top ten list written for kids by kids

by Alexander and Gabriella Davidson

If you are going into middle school for the first time, or you haven’t had a great time so far, we know how you feel. Middle school can seem new and scary, but the truth is it’s not all that bad. We promise you’ll have a great time if you  just follow these tips.

    1. DON’T let your mom convince you that a rolling backpack is cool. Rolling backpacks will have everyone trying to avoid you as you walk down the hall. We know from firsthand experience. You don’t want to be the ONE kid responsible for everyone’s bruised up feet and ankles. Besides, why use a rolling backpack when you can one-strap a normal backpack?

    2. DON’T EVER tell people that you have chewing gum. Gum is currency in middle school. Treat every strip of gum as if it is your last. Don’t believe your so-called “friends” when they tell you that you won’t miss just one little piece of gum. You will miss that piece of gum, right at the beginning of the dreadful seventh period.

    3. DO make sure your binder is big enough. A good binder size is three inches. You want to be able to fit books in there as well as plenty of paper. Don’t get the one-incher, or you’ll be cramming sheets of paper down your pockets. Another good thing to have is a binder with a front pocket. You don’t want to be zipping and unzipping your binder every time you need a pencil.

    4. DON’T waste your money on locker decorations. It’s just not worth it. You’re in your locker about two minutes a day. That’s just not enough time to appreciate your rug, chandelier and wallpaper. It’s a total waste of your hard earned money, unless of course your parents offer to buy them for you! In that case, they are a wonderful thing to have.

    5.  DO GET A TOP LOCKER!!! Unless you are three feet tall, make sure you get a top locker. If you get a bottom locker make sure to wear a helmet to school. If you don’t, you’ll be suffering from severe head injuries because of the falling textbooks.

    6. DO bring snacks for after school. As soon as the school bell goes off for the end of the day, your mind will be set on food. After-school snacks are like gum, everyone wants it. Trust us—you’ll be hungry after school, and you don’t want to be that kid who asks everyone for food.

    7. DON’T use too much aerosol deodorant. Middle school is the time of your life that you will go through many changes. You may notice a fowl smell coming from your body. It’s OK to use a small amount of aerosol deodorant, but be careful. If you use too much, people will be able to smell you from the end of the hall.

    8. DON’T save your homework for the last minute. Homework is something that we all dread, and middle school is when it starts piling up. This isn’t elementary school anymore. No more coloring sheets that you can put off until the morning before it’s due. Manage your time and be smart about your homework. It only gets harder from here.

    9. DO remember it’s only middle school, and DON’T buy the ring. In middle school, you will often find yourself being attracted by the opposite gender. If you somehow end up “in a relationship” don’t believe that it’s going to lead you into a church saying “I do.” You’ve got your whole life ahead of you and you don’t have to start thinking about these kinds of things now. There are plenty of fish in the sea! (Just don’t eat the ones from the cafeteria.)

    10. DO make the most out of your middle school experience. You always hear adults complaining about how they wish they could be a kid again. So what makes you think you won’t miss your childhood? The teenage years are the prime of your life, and you might as well enjoy them before gray hairs start sprouting out of your scalp.

Alexander and Gabriella Davidson live with their parents and dog, Libby, in Rogers, Arkansas. Together, they have a combined four years of middle school experience and keep a close eye on their gum.