With the beginning of September comes the new school year. Hey sleepyhead – it's back to school time!

When on holiday you probably relaxed, did what you wanted and recharged your batteries. And now you’ve got to find the energy for your new school timetable, early starts and homework. Try not to think of these as chores – new people, new topics and, who knows, this year's reading list might be full of surprises. In short, come back to school with an open mind, ready to learn and with a fresh perspective.
 
If you are changing school in September, you're bound to feel anxious, uncertain and nervous about a new journey, different neighbourhood, making friends and your new teachers. Think of it as an opportunity to meet new people, develop your capabilities, build on your talents and find new hobbies. A new class also means a new circle of friends and even if you're shy or lacking confidence, try to look at this change as an opportunity.

It's likely that most people don’t know each other and everybody wants to hang around with someone. Start with nice hellos, smile and try to start a casual conversation at least twice a day. These are small but effective steps to breaking the ice.

Try not to set yourself back in the first few weeks. For your studies, this means keeping up lesson by lesson and not just when there's a test. Just think, you might even be inspired by a particular teacher and a new subject. Science, art, history or foreign languages – new subjects let you discover things about yourself and develop new interests, as long as you're not playing catch-up all the time. Staying on top of things makes learning more enjoyable and means more time for your other interests.
 
No matter how this school year takes shape, remember you always have the weekends and your next holiday is only weeks away. Go for it!