Alexis Burling - Surviving Your First High School Party

Published in 2018 by Enslow Publishing, LLC.

101 W. 23rd Street, Suite 240, New York, NY 10011

Copyright 2018 by Enslow Publishing, LLC.

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced by any means without the written permission of the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Burling, Alexis, author.

Title: Surviving your first high school party / Alexis Burling.

Description: New York : Enslow Publishing, [2018] | Series: Teen survival guide | Audience: Grades 7-12. | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2017017610| ISBN 9780766091931 (library bound) | ISBN 9780766093669 (pbk.) | ISBN 9780766093676 (6 pack)

Subjects: LCSH: Self-confidence. | Self-confidenceJuvenile literature.

Classification: LCC BF575.S39 B867 2018 | DDC 646.7/60835dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017017610

Printed in the United States of America

To Our Readers: We have done our best to make sure all websites in this book were active and appropriate when we went to press. However, the author and the publisher have no control over and assume no liability for the material available on those websites or on any websites they may link to. Any comments or suggestions can be sent by email to .

Photo Credits: Cover iStockphoto.com/Image Source; p. 5 Pressmaster/Shutterstock.com; p. 8 Nancy Ney/Photodisc/Getty Images; p. 9 Tom Wang/Shutterstock.com; p. 12 globalmoments/Shutterstock.com; p. 16 Alibi Productions/Alamy Stock Photo; p. 18 Lisa Peardon/The Image Bank/Getty Images; p. 21 Makistock/Shutterstock.com; p. 23 KaptureHouse/Shutterstock.com; p. 26 steven parks/Shutterstock.com; p. 31 Jozef Polc /Alamy Stock Photo; p. 33 mauritius images GmbH/Alamy Stock Photo; p. 36 digitalskillet /Shutterstock.com; p. 39 chainarong06/Shutterstock.com; p. 40 Rubberball/Nicole Hill /Getty Images; p. 43 Lev Dolgachov/Alamy Stock Photo; cover and interior pages graphic elements iStockphoto.com/marigold_88 (waves), Milos Djapovic/Shutterstock.com (rough texture), Miloje/Shutterstock.com (circles).

Y our teen years and high school are mostly about studying and getting good grades, participating in after-school activities, and preparing for the next step, which often means getting a job or going to college. But whom are we kidding? An important part of being a teenager is also about having loads of fun, and what could be more of a blast than partying with friends?

Listen. We know what you're thinking. Partying is partying. You get there fashionably late. You chat with your pals and flirt with that guy or gal you've been eyeing in the cafeteria. Maybe you get your dance moves on if there's cool music playing. Then you go home. Easy peasy. Does there really need to be a book about how to have a good time... at a party?

You'd be surprised.

Social functions can be nerve-wracking, even if you're one of those seemingly flawless, confident people. There are a million variables to consider and crucial decisions to make. What to wear? How to get there? Do you go solo in the hopes of meeting new people or with your tried-and-true crew for added support? And that's all before you've even arrived!

How to act at the party is a whole other story. There's the entrance factor: Big splash or slip in under the radar? The socializing dilemma: Make the rounds or stick to one group? The "Eek! I'm new!" element: What if you don't know anyone there? How do you introduce yourself and make friends without coming off as too pushy, too fake, or too much of a wallflower? In other words, how do you make the best impression possible without breaking a sweat?

The good news is that you can definitely get the hang of it. Partying with confidence just takes a little know-how, a smidge of practice, and boatloads of patience. Of course, a healthy sense of humorand a willingness to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and try again when you faildoesn't hurt either. With Surviving Your First High School Party, you'll learn how to start a conversation with a stranger on the fly, how to flirt with that special someone without overdoing it, and how to exit the scene with flair and panache.

We'll also cover some of the heavier stuff, like alcohol and drug use. You'll find out what to do when the pressure to hook up becomes all too real, or how to deal when you're itching to leave but your BFF refuses to leave with you. Finally, this book will prepare you for the morning after how to embrace or ignore what's trending on your social media feeds.

Your teen years often involve taking risks, exploring friendships new and old, and embracing vulnerability (aka being your real self) even if it makes you feel self-conscious. Going to parties might feel super awkward at first, but you'll get better at it with time. Plus, chances are everyone else is feeling the same as you. Because, trust us, we've been there, too.

C ongratulations! You just received an invitation to a new friend's exclusive birthday gathering next week. Or maybe you just heard about a fab party happening in the neighborhood on Friday night and thought you'd swing by with your pals. Whatever the case may be, the message is clear: It's game time.

But cool your boots. Before you get too carried away in excitement mode, there are a few things to iron out before the big night. Don't worry; this'll only take a minutethen we get to the fun stuff.

We all know the goal of going to a party is to have a good time and not think about snooze-worthy minutiae. But actually, making sure all the persnickety details are locked into place is the key to having a stress-free evening.

When prepping for a party, the first question to ask yourself is:Will the parents or an adult be present? This is important because it's info your parents or guardian will likely want to know before you go. If the answer is yes, phew! You're in the clear. Give your folks the 411. If the answer is no, that's not necessarily a deal breaker. It just means you have to be more careful and conscious of your behavior, lest the party gets out of hand and you have to make a quick exit.

Next up: Are you going with a group or braving it alone? Swinging solo has its benefits: You call all the shots. But that's not always ideal. Making an entrance to a party can be tough, even if you know everyone there. And, if there's a room packed full of people dancing? Even harder! Tagging along with a friend (or friends) can help ease anxiety or first-time jitters. Plus, it gives you and your pals something to gab about in the weeks or days leading up to the big event.