By Hayden Sampson

Hey guys, my name is Hayden Sampson, and I am a Junior here at Tempe Prep. I’ve been here for a while now, and I’ve been asked to write a few things that I think could help underclassmen, as well as upperclassmen, in their endeavors here at TPA. Rather than base it solely off of my knowledge and experience, I’ve decided to get some help from other people that have some ideas on how to get through life at Tempe Prep, so a majority of these tips are from not just mine but others’ input. I will say this: It’s not easy being a TPA student, but getting through it and thriving is entirely possible when you do a few simple things. So here are my top 5 tips for surviving Tempe Prep:

1. Do your work. I can’t make this any clearer, but I feel like I need to reiterate what every teacher or parent has ever said anyway. I’ve been on both sides of the story with this one, and being well prepared almost always is the more comfortable lifestyle to go with. Coming into class not having done the homework is one of the highest stress points I’ve gone through in my daily life. Sometimes the homework assigned is too long to be enjoyable. Alright, let’s not play games here, it’s always too long to be enjoyable. But sometimes, it’s just something that needs to get done.  Little pro tip: Its more than okay to take naps, just try to make them happen not in class. Teachers will appreciate it, take it from me.
2. Be friendly. This school is small. That’s the truth, and it goes so much smoother when we are nicer to each other. This is true for upperclassmen toward underclassmen, and underclassmen toward upper classmen as well. Smile at people, high five them, and hold open doors. Someone’s day can get so much better if one of us just does one of these things for them. As high schoolers, it’s also our job to help the middle schoolers get through middle school. We all remember how tough that can be, probably a little too vividly. Says senior John Patterson, “We’re all a tight knit group here, and we need to look out for each other. The more we act like a family, the more we are one.”
3. Do extracurriculars. Sports and clubs are the best way to meet people and make friends. TPA is awesome because everyone gets to interact with everyone through clubs and sports and activities like field day. So participate! Be involved in groups like Student Life Club, because you can’t complain about how things are run if you’re a part of it. At the end of your time here, you’re going to wish you spent more time with friends doing sports and being a part of clubs.
4. Talk to Mrs. Moffitt. If you ask any of our Tempe Prep alumni about how they got into college, Mrs. Moffitt’s name will most definitely come up. Mrs. Moffitt is our amazing college counselor and can help you get on your way to make it to your college. She can work miracles, you just have to let her.
5. Have fun. If you don’t stop and have fun in middle school and high school, these 7 years will take forever. So, enjoy yourself and help others to do the same along the way. Don’t lower your head and forget that fun things are going on around you, but keep your head up and find ways to do more than tolerate these years. Lauren Casey says, “Tempe Prep can be a great home for you if you look to make it one.”