Transitioning from school to Sixth Form can be a daunting time, but one ex-Kingsbridge Community College student has some advice.

Jaz Bannister left KCC in July and has come up with a list of things that “sixth form will fail to teach you, valuable lessons that go untaught”.

She has allowed us to share her wisdom, covering the things relevant to sixth formers lives such as sex, drugs, relationships, politics, health and well-being here:

• Respect and love your body. You are goddamn wonderful

• Do not trust the “pull-out method”

• A lot has changed since your parents were your age, be as patient with them as they have been with you

• If you don’t already know how to feed yourself and do your laundry that’s okay, but you’re not a child anymore and independence is freedom

• It’s up to you to keep up to date with politics. It is pretty important and when you turn 18 You. Must. Vote.

• That being said, “I’m not educated enough about this topic to form a real opinion” is always an acceptable thing to say

• Nobody is worth a penny more nor a penny less than you are

• Drugs can be a slippery slope (we all know that) but if you can’t be sensible you should at least be safe. Information is readily available about drug risks, appearances, costs, effects, the law, and all sorts on websites like TalkToFrank for example, should you want to experiment. ALWAYS practice safe sesh, people

• Not wanting to sesh, is not uncool

• Being chubby is cool. Being skinny is cool. We are all cool

• 1 in 5 women in the UK experience some kind of sexual violence after the age of 16

• Never ever make an advance at somebody after they’ve said they’re not interested

• Never ever get physical with somebody unless you’re certain they have consented (this lesson should not have to be spelled out, but there it is)

• Stop drinking energy drinks; they are so bad for you

• Death is sad and breakups are hard, they are inevitable and normal parts of growing up, there is always someone who is willing to listen to you but no matter how bad things feel it will always get better. I promise.

• A pharmacist can answer plenty of your medical questions – you don’t need to see your GP for everything. (also, if your GP prescribes you something you can afford over the counter, buy it. The NHS needs all the help it can get)

• The news lies and will make you feel depressed

• You’re out and about and you witness somebody acting like a chump. Maybe they’re yelling at the waiter, maybe they just kicked their dog. Call them out. (Assuming you’re not endangering anybody by doing so)

• Just because you can drive now, doesn’t mean you can’t walk, climate change is basically irreversible now but come on. While we’re on the environment let’s stop leaving Costa cups sprawled all over The Rec, did you know you get discount if you bring your own reusable cup?

• Wear suncream. You are not tougher than the sun.

• (This one is mostly for the young ladies) You’re at work, or school, or a family function and an older man keeps talking over you. Look that dude square in the face and proudly announce “Excuse me I wasn’t finished speaking and it’s rude to interrupt”. Then watch as his life crumbles before your eyes because he just can’t grasp that it’s 2017 and you are allowed to have a voice.

• Buy your mum some flowers. Or literally pick a dandelion off the side of the road as long as she knows you got it for her

• 100 per cent file a report if you experience assault. Think of the others you could be helping. Be a reminder that people have to answer for their actions

• Join the blood and organ donor register - this one is especially important if you are one of the few people of colour in the area.

• School will make you believe that you have to aim for ever increasingly high standards, and it’s great to be ambitious, but don’t let that fool you into thinking that’s all that there is. There is nothing wrong with living small and quiet if that suits you. Aim high, but don’t think you’ve failed when you don’t know what you want to do when you leave. (Top secret: literally nobody knows what they want to do and that is A-Okay)

• Revision is cool but do you know what’s cooler? Consecutive nights of decent and adequate sleep.

• If you’ve made it to Year 12 without picking up smoking, keep it that way, cigarettes are not cool anymore

• Somebody sent you nudes on Snapchat? Try not showing other people! (Easy peasy)

• Respect people, respect animals, respect the environment

• School is important but it sure as hell isn’t everything. Always question The Man.

She ended by saying: “You are the future. In this world all you can do is your best. Things, unfortunately, will not always be fair regardless of how good a person you are but above all be nice, be forgiving, be loving. "The sun will rise and you can always try again.”