Any advice on how to handle high school?

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Especially for an autistic person?

1. Pep Rallies are loud, lame, and irritating.
2. Eating outside is ten times better than eating in a Cafeteria, people have more space.
3. The library is a great place to be before school, not so much during lunch.
4. Most teachers have no problem with people bringing books which is a really good thing
5. Some classes allow Ipods and Mp3 players and that is also really good thing.
6. Tables of four in classrooms are great for meeting people.
7. Afterschool groups are also quite effective for meeting people, especially if it is some sort of team.
8. In the Library there is more actual conversation among people and far less chatter, also most people will have a book or magazine.

I used to hang out in the library by myself during lunch.
It doesn't look as weird as hanging out by yourself out
around campus. Students always notice who the loners
are. I had friends to hang out with, too, but I didn't al-
ways want to be around them.

Flat out ignore anyone that teases you. I was very weird-
looking in H.S. by late 1980s standards, and jocks loved
making fun of my hair or my clothes. Ignoring them
saved me from getting my butt kicked several times....
And it was difficult for me because I love talking back to
jerx.

What I've learned to do and not do in HS, what i've done, and maybe something helpful:
1. Avoid peprallies or be prepared to cover your ears the whole time.
2. Bring your lunch until you know what the cafeteria is serving and when.
3. Keep quiet when you dont know for sure and speak out when you DO know for sure so you dont look or feel like an idiot when you get the wrong answer.
4. Avoid people who make you feel bad.
5. Stick with your friends and nice people, but step out of the comfort zone even a little bit sometimes to meet other people.
6. Watch what you say. Too many people love to twist your words into something entirely different from what you mean.
7. If you have the urge to do something most people think is weird (like look through the grabage), make sure no one is looking and make up a logical reason why you're doing it just in case (like "i droped my pencil in the trash while sharpening it and i want to find it").
8. Do your homework when you can, esp when your concentration is best so you can get more done.
9. If you have trouble asking for help, ask the teacher after class. If you cant ask teachers, ask a friend. If you're embarrassed, then try to make friends with someone in the class and ask them to help you.
10. When speaking your mind or countering someone who said something, be prepared for critisism and know what you'll say. People can be so mean....
11. Avoid crowded hallways aka Toothpaste Alley. They are WAY too loud and noisy and people tend to stop and talk with their friends in the hallway aka clump. Luckily, there is always a path around them, but be prepared to run. People get SO mad when you accidently bump their purse or step on their foot and tend to push you for it. Be quick when passing people so they cant catch you or better yet, take the less crowded hallways to class.
12. Teacher Tips: A. If teachers dont tend to like you, then when you get new ones, be friendly and try to like them. B. Be nice and polite to them, show respect to them and others. C. If they are the type that are grumpy all the time, then just do what work you're given and behave. D. If they're the type who seem to like certain people and you're always "the bad one", then either hold strong and survive or ask a counciler to get you out. Be prepared to explain why you dont like the teacher, what they've done to you that you find mean, and all that. E. When you're in trouble, keep your temper. Listen to the teacher and calmly explain your side. This is not the time to argue with their athority, trust me.
13. When you get in trouble: A. If you did something bad like cheating, apologize to them or even write them a note apologizing to them. B. If you're arguing with someone and get in trouble, don't make the other look bad. Explain things fairly and try to make up with the other person and apologize. C. If you're framed, try to explain why you're innocent. Don't expect them to believe you right away all the time. If you're considered a "good" kid, then likely if you're framed, they'll not believe it or try to find out what happened. If you're not, then maybe try to prove you're innocent. Do logical explanations.
14. When doing groupwork, try to compromise. Use your abilities to help and be useful. (Although in my opinion, group work is annoying unless its a big project that i cant really do alone, then i'll want a partner to help).
15. When you're going to get groupwork, make a list of people you wouldn't mind working with and those you cant work with. Some teachers have you do that so they know. When you are told to get in groups, go to the people you like. If you're assigned groups, try to get along with them. If they're total meanies to you, ask to move.
16. If you hate to show grades and stuff, keep them put away so you dont have people rubbernecking or hawking you and your grade.
17. When it comes to the school asking parents to chaporone this and that, don't let your parents help if they're going to hawk you the whole time or you'll have no fun. Even worse is when they go over later every single part that you screwed up on and why you did this and that and why you didnt do that and on and on.
If I think of more, I'll post them. -Power Girl