Eighth-graders from every Putnam City middle school submitted their thoughts, sending in hundreds of pieces of advice. As grizzled veterans of the middle school scene, the advice from 8th-graders to younger students was simple: work hard in classes, don’t get caught up in social drama and be nice to teachers.

Below is a smattering of 8th-graders' answers to two questions.

Academics

• I wish I had known to study for tests really hard.
• I wish I had known that the tests would be so hard so I could’ve studied more.
• I wish I had known that if you fall behind in your work, it is really hard to make it up.
• I wish I had known to do my homework at home because I wouldn’t have time most of the time in class.
• I wish I had known that procrastination never helps anyone, especially me.
• I wish I had known to turn in my enrollment early so I could get the electives I want.
• I wish I had known more about what kind of math I would be doing. If I had known I would of gone to pre-algebra in the 6th-grade.

Teachers

• I wish I had known that teachers aren’t out to get you.
• I wish I had known that some teachers tolerated stuff that other teachers don’t, so you have to distinguish those teachers from the others.

Other Students

• I wish I had known that older kids wouldn’t pick on us. When I started middle school I thought there would be a lot of bullies, but there weren’t. The 8th-graders and 7th-graders really won’t even talk to you.
• I wish I had known kids in middle school think they’re cool but they are really like anyone else.
• I wish I had known not to try to fit in with the crowd. I should just be myself.
• I wish I had known never to care what other people say about me. It will just put you down.
• I wish I had known about all of the drama that goes on.
• I wish I had known to be careful with whom I associated.
• I wish I had known staying out of trouble is easy when you have friends to help you.

The Whole Experience

• I wish I had known that middle school would be easier than I was told. I was very scared of middle school when I was in 5th grade.
• I wish I had known that it really isn’t as hard and scary as I thought it would be.
• I wish I had known it’s not as scary as they portray.
• I wish I had known that it was going to be easy and not scary at all.

Academics

• School is easy. You just have to work.
• Keep a cool head and stay with your work, because once you get stressed out you mess up a lot in your school work.
• Stay on top of your work. Don’t fall behind.
• Always study whether you think you should or not.
• Stay organized. It will save you if you’re ever in a jam.
• Always turn in your homework.
• Turn in your work on time.
• Don’t be tardy for your classes.
• The less school you miss, the better.
• Do the work, take late grades if necessary, but never take a zero.
• Don’t slack off. It will haunt you later.
• Pay attention in class, stay away from distractions and do your work.
• Study hard. Never give up.
• Take all the honors classes you can. They will help in the future, especially in high school.

Teachers

• Don’t talk back to teachers. They are adults and you should respect them.
• Don’t smart off to teachers. If you get on their good side they’ll use you as a good example.
• It’s always good to get closer to your teacher, because if you’re willing to work with them, they’re willing to work with you.
• If you be nice to the teachers they will be nice to you.
• Get to know your principals and teachers and be friendly. You can get out of quite a bit of trouble that way.

Other Students

• Make lots of friends. You’ll need them for support.
• Don’t choose wrong friends. They’re going to change your future.
• Make sure you hang out with the right people so you’ll never get in trouble.
• Be nice to everyone and be a friend.
• Don’t talk smack, don’t talk behind people’s backs and don’t lie.
• Don’t give in to peer pressure. You’ll end up regretting it.
• Always be yourself.
• Don’t try to fit in with people by doing things to be cool.
• It’s always good to have friends, and making new ones is just as good as keeping old ones.
• The drama can crush you, so know how to deal with it so that people can see it doesn’t bother you and they will leave it alone.
• Stay with your morals and values. Don’t give in to peer pressure because that ends in rumor and regret.

The Whole Experience

• Don’t freak out.
• It’s hard at first but is easy to get the hang of.
• Worry more about your work than what people say.
• If you work hard and make good choices you will have a good school year.
• Keep your grades up, don’t suck up, choose good friends, make good choices.
• Stay close to your parents. Middle school is when you’ll need them the most.
• Don’t stand in the middle of the hallway and talk. You’ll get run over by people trying to get to class.
• Sign up for leadership. You get to do cool stuff like standing up at the microphone at an assembly.
• I would advise 6th-graders to join all the school activities they want to early.
• Things you want don’t just come to you anymore. You gotta go get what you want.
• Stay confident and do your best.
• Always be on top of everything you do. Never let someone or something stop you.
• Don’t slack off. Middle school is the stepping stone to high school.
• Enjoy every bit of it because it will be gone before you know it.