INPUT ARTICLE: Article: On average, the people who tend to struggle the most with their first days are people who spent too much of their summer indoors and relaxing. While summer should be about having fun and letting loose a little, you should also try to stay active and busy over the course of the summer. There are lots of ways you can go about doing this: Getting a summer job is a perfect way to stay on your feet. Not only will you be keeping in the swing of proper routine and getting worthwhile experience; you'll also be making some good money while you're at it. Having an extra coin in your pocket will help ensure your summer's as good as it can be. Joining a sport for the summer is a fun way to spend long hot days, and you'll become more fit and strong as a result. The people who struggle with school the most at first are those who weren't studying over the summer. You can study about anything you want, whether it's films, history, or math. Simply keeping your brain in the habit of learning will give you an extra advantage when it comes to going back to school. If you're keen on getting the best grades and know what classes you'll be taking in advance, you should research some of those course topics in advance. That way, you'll already be a bit of an expert on the subjects before they're even brought up! Most schools enroll students based on their catchments, or where they're living. If you have any friends living in the same neighbourhood as you, chances are they'll be going to the same school! Make a point of nurturing stronger bonds with those friends. Spend part of your summer with them, and grow closer. While there's always bound to be some anxiety going into a first day of school, having friends around that care about you makes it much easier. Arguably the most important thing you can do in preparing for your first day is making sure you have all of the equipment you need. The types of materials you'll need will vary from class to class. A lot of high school classes will have some sort of online webpage that will post the recommended materials you should bring. Print off a copy for each list of materials and take them to an office supplies store. Certain things, like pens and paper, will be used for virtually all classes, so you can buy a single stack for use throughout your school year. Here are some things you'll almost certainly need for your first day: A backpack with comfortable shoulder straps. A sturdy binder, filled with ruled paper. Pens (red and black) and HB pencils. Spiral-bound notebooks; one for each class you're enrolled in. A pair of scissors. A scientific calculator and graphed paper, if you're doing Mathematics. A small vial of hand sanitizer. A portable USB drive, for saving computer work.

SUMMARY: Stay busy throughout the summer. Continue studying over the summer. Spend time with friends that will be attending the same school. Purchase your school supplies.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: For increased support and stability, whenever you cross a river, always keep at least 2 points of contact with the riverbed using your pole or stick and one of your feet. This will make you less likely to trip or get caught in the current. Form a tripod with your two feet and your pole or stick. Slide your feet slowly forward as you walk in a diagonal direction across the river. Walk against the flow of the river and head towards the opposite bank. If you're in a group of people, move in a diagonal line across the water and walk against the direction of the current. Use your pole or stick to probe in front of you to check for large logs or other debris. The person in the front of the group will break the current and make the crossing easier for the rest of the group, so they need to be the strongest and most capable person in the group. The best way to make sure that you're moving across the river in the direction that you want is to keep your eyes fixed on a spot on the opposite shore. Don't look down at the water in front of you for too long or you could veer off course. Looking at rushing or swirling water can also make you dizzy and disoriented. You should still keep an eye out for debris, branches, and logs, but try to use your periphery vision so you can focus on the other shore. Panicking if you trip or fall can cause you to hyperventilate or make irrational decisions. If you do happen to fall while you're crossing the river, remove your backpack or gear if it makes getting back up too difficult. If the current starts to sweep you down the river, flip onto your back and point your feet downstream. Wait until you reach calm water or the current slows down to swim to shore. If at any point during your crossing you feel unsure about your footing, the current, or the depth of the water, you should turn around and return to shore. You can always try again later or search for a better place to cross the river.

SUMMARY: Keep 2 points of contact with the ground at all times when you cross. Move across the river at a slight angle against the flow of water. Lock arms and have the strongest person lead the way. Keep your eyes focused on the shore rather than the water in front of you. Stay calm and don't panic if you fall. Turn around if the current is too strong or the water is too deep.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: This is always a good skill to have, and opens the doorways to things like orchestras and ensembles. You don't have to have formal music lessons, things like playing in a band can also count towards this. This is becoming increasingly desirable in the modern world, will open doors to fantastic travel opportunities and be a lot of fun. There are myriad groups and This is especially important if you desire to study a mostly non-curricular or obscure subject. These will likely have added cost, but will be extremely interesting and amusing. Examples include:

SUMMARY: Learn a musical instrument. Learn a new language. Learn more about a subject. Take the opportunity to do some of the odder examples allowed by the DofE Authority.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Shuffling a deck, dealing the cards to players, and keeping track of the pot are skills that you gain by doing the actions repeatedly. Practice at home with a deck of cards prior to a game to improve your accuracy and sleight of hand. Gamblers are looking to have a good time, which, for the dealer, translates to maintaining a positive attitude, showing restraint and keeping quiet throughout the game, and answering or redirecting any questions that are raised. Poker dealers must have good communication and customer service skills. Communicating with the players and, if applicable, with the floor or casino staff is crucial to being a good, entertaining dealer. Poker is played hundreds of ways, so familiarize yourself with the rules of each game. The most popular variations are Texas Hold'em, the Five- and Seven-Card Studs, and the Five-Card Draw. Read or watch online tutorials from the likes of TruePokerDealer to learn how to play different variations.

SUMMARY:
Practice often. Be professional. Be familiar with a variety of games.