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Only the other day my friend and I were discussing how moving schools can be terrific in one way, but hard in another. Even though I am a fraction newer to this school than her, she understands what I mean when I talk about how different it is, and how important first impressions are.

The pros of a new school

Finally, a new start! A clean slate, a chance to meet new people. Moving schools really can be great. Not only are you in a fresh environment, but you have fresh teachers and you can forget about those embarrassing moments back in year 7 that everyone still remembers...

Making new friends

First day! I remember being nervous because I wanted to make a good impression. First impressions are really important, especially at school.

If a potentially great group of friends think that you're, well, acting tough to impress, or trying to hard to be someone your not then they won't want to associate themselves with you. Whereas if you act like your normal self then you will attract people that you will be able to relate best to: people like YOU. People who will want to be around YOU. That's right, the real you.

So once you have found and met some new friends (trust me, its not as hard as it sounds - most of the time people will come up to you and introduce themselves), it's best just to settle down slowly into the group.

One of the best things about moving to a new school is that you can find out how the group dynamics work, or who influences who. I found it interesting to just sit and observe for the first couple of weeks.

Of course, these people will want to know about you as well, so being in the spotlight of their attention is also a good feeling. Remember not to make anything up or boast about yourself. They won't appreciate it in the long run.

Meeting new teachers

You also have a great opportunity to get into the teachers' good books first off. They won't know about any of your little "behavioural mistakes" in previous years. If this applies to you, then having a clean slate in that regard is great.

You will find it a lot easier in class if the teacher is on your side. Also, getting a bad reputation as a person who mucks up in class won't help either.

The cons of a new school

Where there are good times, there must be bad. These things won't necessarily be bad for you, it's just all part of the experience of growing up and being exposed to different situations. You learn tough lessons when you're young, but these lessons pay off when you remember them in similar situations throughout life.

Fitting in with the group

Finding the "right" kind of friends can take a while, and even after you have found them there may be aspects of the group that you won't like.

My group of friends that I have made are great, but there is NO such thing as a trouble-free group. You may like most of the people, but there may be one or two who you don't agree with. I strongly recommend trying to ignore or brush off anything that these few individuals try to throw at you, because the consequences of hitting back will bring you unwanted attention.

Being the "new one", some people might be a bit standoffish towards you because they feel threatened. But once they find out you aren't a big threat, they will usually back off.

Nobody really knows you

Another thing that isn't so good about being new is that no one, including the teachers, really knows who you are. Therefore, you may feel a little misplaced or out of sorts with class members and teachers.

This feeling will intensify when your having a bad day, so make sure that, instead of taking it out on someone, chose a person that you trust the most and talk to them.

I don't mean a huge "deep and meaningful", I mean just a casual chat about school and anything that pops up. Not only will the other person get to know you better, but it will make you feel good as well!

Schoolsickness

Finally, we need to consider "schoolsickness". Think of homesickness, but instead of missing home, you miss your old friends, classmates and - believe it or not - your old teachers. Like before, missing your old school will intensify when you're feeling down, so having a lighthearted chat with one of your new friends will usually do the trick.

Keeping in contact or catching up with your old friends will usually help a lot. Sticking it out at your new school may be tough but it will be worth it.

It's your decision

Whether you're making a decision to move schools, or just curious about what it's like, moving schools definitely should be YOUR decision and yours alone. It has to feel right, but don't be too scared to take risks. Put yourself out there and you will have a whole lot of fun!

For more personal stories about school, check out the Personal stories section of our Study and training pages.

Articles Written by Melody