IT'S time for high school! You're beginning a journey full of excitement, but also some worries. These upperclassmen (高年级学生) have some advice on how to spend your first year of high school.

Q: I'll be studying nine subjects. Will I have the time to work as hard I will need to? – Hu Ziwei, 15, Nanjing Foreign Language School

A: Relax. The nine subjects are timetabled (课程安排好的); just follow the school's plan and you'll be fine. However, you'll have to use your time cleverly, so make sure you stay on top of your homework. This means you need your own plan too! Pay special attention to the subjects you think you are weaker in. – Fang Zhou, freshman at Peking University

Q: High school means more homework. Will I still have time for exercise? I'm afraid I might get fat. – Hu Ziwei

A: It all depends on how much you care about your looks. I care a lot so I take my three PE classes every week seriously. Also, I work out in the afternoons by playing volleyball or basketball when there is no PE class. I also gave up snacks. I often ate them while I was doing my homework. – Xu Yangyang, Senior 2 student at Meicun High School in Wuxi, Jiangsu

Q: We'll be studying so much there won't be time to talk to each other. Maybe I won't make any friends in high school. – Wang Zeyu, 16, the High School Attached to Northeast Normal University in Changchun, Jilin

A: Don't be afraid of reaching out to people. Everyone will want to make new friends, so people won't judge (评判) you. Try talking with your new classmates at lunch or after class, and you'll find you share many interests. If your school has a club that sounds fun, sign up. People become really close in the same club. – Lin Yujie, Senior 2 student at Chengdu Foreign Language School

Q: I play the violin. Must I give it up because of all the work? – Wang Zeyu

A: You don't have to give it up, but you won't be able to spend as much time on your violin as you did before. I practice my calligraphy (书法) an hour a week, but I used to do it for three hours. Be organized (有条理的) when it comes to your schoolwork so you can also spend the time you want on your hobbies. – Fang Zhou

Q: I'm going to start at a key high school. My worry is that perhaps I'll fall behind and no longer be a top student like I was in junior high. – Yin Yue, 15, Chengdu No 7 High School

A: That's just what the rest of your classmates will be thinking! Work hard and you'll go on to shine. The key thing is to set goals. Make plans for months, weeks, even days. Most importantly, make the most of your opportunities. Procrastination (拖延) will get you nowhere! – Lin Yujie

IT'S time for high school! You're beginning a journey full of excitement, but also some worries. These upperclassmen (高年级学生) have some advice on how to spend your first year of high school.

Q: I'll be studying nine subjects. Will I have the time to work as hard I will need to? – Hu Ziwei, 15, Nanjing Foreign Language School

A: Relax. The nine subjects are timetabled (课程安排好的); just follow the school's plan and you'll be fine. However, you'll have to use your time cleverly, so make sure you stay on top of your homework. This means you need your own plan too! Pay special attention to the subjects you think you are weaker in. – Fang Zhou, freshman at Peking University

Q: High school means more homework. Will I still have time for exercise? I'm afraid I might get fat. – Hu Ziwei

A: It all depends on how much you care about your looks. I care a lot so I take my three PE classes every week seriously. Also, I work out in the afternoons by playing volleyball or basketball when there is no PE class. I also gave up snacks. I often ate them while I was doing my homework. – Xu Yangyang, Senior 2 student at Meicun High School in Wuxi, Jiangsu

Q: We'll be studying so much there won't be time to talk to each other. Maybe I won't make any friends in high school. – Wang Zeyu, 16, the High School Attached to Northeast Normal University in Changchun, Jilin

A: Don't be afraid of reaching out to people. Everyone will want to make new friends, so people won't judge (评判) you. Try talking with your new classmates at lunch or after class, and you'll find you share many interests. If your school has a club that sounds fun, sign up. People become really close in the same club. – Lin Yujie, Senior 2 student at Chengdu Foreign Language School

Q: I play the violin. Must I give it up because of all the work? – Wang Zeyu

A: You don't have to give it up, but you won't be able to spend as much time on your violin as you did before. I practice my calligraphy (书法) an hour a week, but I used to do it for three hours. Be organized (有条理的) when it comes to your schoolwork so you can also spend the time you want on your hobbies. – Fang Zhou

Q: I'm going to start at a key high school. My worry is that perhaps I'll fall behind and no longer be a top student like I was in junior high. – Yin Yue, 15, Chengdu No 7 High School

A: That's just what the rest of your classmates will be thinking! Work hard and you'll go on to shine. The key thing is to set goals. Make plans for months, weeks, even days. Most importantly, make the most of your opportunities. Procrastination (拖延) will get you nowhere! – Lin Yujie