Welcome to Maine West and good luck in your coming years. Of course, good luck isn't all you'll need in the next four years; you will also need to give something of yourself.

Don't be afraid to join clubs and get into different activities. They're here for you, and if you don't join them, they won't succeed.

When you join a club, be a part of the club; but also, be the club. Understand it, help it, preach it, and make it successful. Don't let someone else always do the work, because someone else might not be much different than you: he might be lazy, too.

Homework is also important. If you listen in class, take notes, and read the assignment, you should be an "A" student.

If you don't have time to do all three, you might have to get by doing just two of them. However, this is no way to get to college, as many unfortunate students can tell you.

Most courses that you will be taking are designed to be college preparatory. This is to keep school rating as high as possible so that we students will have a better chance of getting into college.

Sports are the biggest school activity and possibly the largest farce to "brains." But still they're a good place to let off steam (by cheering, that is). Most important, though, when you go to school games you have something in common with those around you, and you'll find that it's easy to make friends. This is the most valuable part of your education.