90% of SHS1 Students Make This Mistake in Their First Week Without Realising It

For many BECE graduates, entering Senior High School is exciting because it marks the beginning of a new chapter. But the first week can also quietly shape the habits, friendships and attitudes that follow a student throughout SHS.

One common mistake is trying too hard to fit in before understanding the school’s rules and culture.

A new SHS1 student may arrive knowing nobody, meet dozens of new classmates and quickly look to older students for guidance. In that unfamiliar environment, the desire to make friends and feel accepted can sometimes lead freshers to copy behaviours they have not yet understood.

This is why the first week should be treated as a period for observing, learning and settling down, rather than rushing to impress others.

The Ghana Education Service (GES) Code of Conduct requires students to demonstrate respect, honesty, obedience to school rules and respect for others and authority.

The mistake starts with following others too quickly

A fresh student may see an older student doing something and assume that it is acceptable.

That assumption can be dangerous.

Every SHS has its own rules, routines and expectations. What another student says is allowed may not necessarily be what the school officially permits.

New students should therefore listen carefully during orientation and read the school’s rules before deciding how they will behave.

The GES has a Guidance and Counselling Directorate, while schools also have structures for helping students adjust to school life.

A student who does not understand something should ask a teacher, housemaster, housemistress, counsellor or another authorised school official.

Do not try to become popular in the first week

Some freshers arrive with the pressure to make friends immediately.

That is understandable, but it should not become a race for popularity.

A student does not need to join every group, accept every invitation or participate in every activity simply to make friends.

The first week is a good time to observe classmates and identify students who demonstrate responsible behaviour.

Good friendships can develop gradually.

Do not ignore the dormitory rules

For boarding students, the dormitory becomes an important part of daily life.

Freshers must learn where they sleep, where they keep their belongings, when they are expected to wake up, how cleaning duties are organised and when students must leave the dormitory.

Students should avoid touching another person’s belongings without permission.

They should also report serious problems instead of attempting to settle them through confrontation.

The GES Code of Conduct applies to student behaviour within and outside the school environment and emphasises respect, obedience and responsible conduct.

Do not waste the first week of prep

Another mistake is assuming that serious academic work can wait.

The first week may involve orientation, settling in and learning the school environment, but students should begin developing their study habits immediately.

Night preparation should not become a period for unnecessary conversations, joking and distractions.

SHS brings new academic demands, and a BECE graduate who develops a regular study routine early can avoid the pressure of trying to catch up later.

The goal should not be to become the student who studies hardest during the first few days. It should be to develop a routine that can be maintained throughout the term.

Freshers should learn the school timetable quickly

A new student can easily become confused during the first few days.

There may be different times for assembly, lessons, meals, prep, house activities and other school responsibilities.

Instead of repeatedly following friends, students should learn their own timetable.

Knowing where they are expected to be and when they are expected to be there can prevent unnecessary lateness and disciplinary problems.

Do not assume every older student is an authority

Older students can be helpful to freshers, particularly when they need directions or want to understand ordinary school routines.

However, freshers should distinguish between advice from an older student and an official instruction from the school.

If an older student tells a fresher to break a school rule, the fact that the student is older does not make the instruction legitimate.

Important questions should be confirmed with the appropriate school authority.

READ:  SHS1 Boarding Students Report From Friday, September 18: What Freshers and Parents Must Know

Be careful about what you post online

The first week can also expose students to new social groups and online conversations.

Freshers should think carefully before taking photographs, recording other students or posting school-related material online.

A student should not allow pressure from friends to result in online behaviour that could create disciplinary problems.

The wider concern about student conduct and technology has already received attention in Ghana’s education sector. Recent discussions on SHS indiscipline have included the influence of social media and digital devices, alongside calls for stronger character formation.

Students should therefore learn to use technology responsibly rather than allowing social media to control their school experience.

Do not hide problems because you are afraid

A new student may become uncomfortable after arriving at school.

The student may struggle with homesickness, dormitory life, academic work, friendships or other aspects of the new environment.

Keeping every problem hidden is not necessarily a sign of strength.

Freshers should know the appropriate people to approach when they need help. Depending on the issue, that may include a housemaster, housemistress, teacher, school counsellor, senior staff member or parent.

Students should particularly report situations involving threats, serious bullying, violence or safety concerns.

Parents should prepare children for independence

Parents also have a role in helping freshers avoid the first-week mistake.

The new SHS student is moving from a more closely supervised JHS environment into a setting where personal responsibility becomes increasingly important.

Parents should encourage their wards to listen, ask questions, respect school authorities and make responsible friendships.

The 2026/2027 National Harmonised Prospectus released by GES is intended to help parents and students prepare for SHS and SHTS enrolment, including the items required for boarding and day students.

Preparation should therefore go beyond buying items for school.

Parents should also talk to their children about discipline, personal safety, responsible friendships, time management and how to seek help.

The first week is not the time to prove anything

A BECE graduate entering SHS does not need to prove that they are tough, popular, wealthy, clever or fearless.

The most important task is to understand the new environment and establish good habits.

Students should watch how responsible students behave, listen to teachers, learn the rules and gradually become comfortable with their new school.

The first week will pass quickly.

What matters is the behaviour and routine a student carries forward after those first few days.

READ: 90% of SHS1 Students Struggle in Their First Term Because of This Simple Mistake

What SHS1 students should remember

The biggest lesson for a new SHS student is simple: do not allow the desire to fit in to make you lose your sense of judgment.

Make friends, but choose them carefully. Listen to older students, but verify important instructions. Enjoy the new environment, but respect the rules. Study, rest, eat properly and take care of your belongings.

Most importantly, remember that SHS is not simply an extension of BECE preparation. It is a new stage of education that requires greater independence and responsibility.

As the 2026/2027 SHS academic year begins, freshers have an opportunity to establish habits that can influence the rest of their secondary-school journey. The students who take time to understand their environment before trying to fit into it will be better positioned to make sensible decisions as the year progresses