How to stay stress-free when you start the new school year

Starting a new school or even a new term can be a seriously scary experience. New people and new experiences are exciting, but that sense of the unexpected can be a struggle for a lot of people.

So with schools and colleges starting up again this week, there will be a lot of people facing some stressful situations. But school shouldn't be a negative experience, so on The Surgery on Radio 1 this week, Katie Thistleton and Dr Radha will be discussing the back to school experience and helping sort out some of your fears about the new school term.

But here are some extra nuggets of advice and support which may help you out if you're worried about what a new year may have in store for you.

"It can be an anxious time starting a new school and making new friends," says Dr Radha.

"It's a natural emotion to have and we all feel nervous with change. You might feel worried that you won't fit in or that you might not know what to say.

"The good news is though that everyone feels like this so you are not on your own."

1. "Most of the time there will be other new students so you are not on your own - work things out together."

2. "Being yourself and being confident is the best way to attract new friends."

3. "If you don't feel confident just act it until you feel it!"

4. "It takes time to settle in so don't worry if you don't feel like everything's sorted after the first few days."

5. "Talk to someone like your teacher, parent, brother or sister if you have any worries about your new school - it helps to talk it through."

6. "Try out after school activities and get as involved as you can because that's a great way of making new friends."

7. "Smiling, asking other people about themselves and being approachable is a great way of making new friends."

A new school or a new term can be difficult, especially if you're shy. But being shy and introverted hasn't held these stars back from finding their place and achieving their dreams.

Zayn Malik says his personality means people think he's something he's not and not understanding who he really is.

"I think my reserved personality is sometimes taken the wrong way," he told Now magazine in 2012.

"That’s why people just perceive me as a bad boy whereas I’m actually just a little bit shy and awkward."

And superstars Beyonce and Lady Gaga? Well they both say they've suffered with shyness as well.

"I generally really keep to myself," Gaga told Hollywood Scoop.

"But when I do meet people that I have lots in common with it goes really well."

"I feel a bit like I did in high school, like I don’t really fit in."

Beyonce says the performer we see on stage is nothing like the woman who runs the show from behind the scenes.

"I wouldn't like Sasha if I met her offstage," she told Parade Magazine, talking about her on-stage alter-ego, Sasha Fierce.

"I'm not like her in real life at all—I'm not flirtatious and super-confident and fearless like her.

"I created my stage persona to protect myself so that when I go home I don't have to think about what it is I do.

"The people around me know who I really am."

And if you do struggle at school, remember you're not alone. Some of the biggest stars in the world got bullied - and they turned out alright.

Selena Gomez told Cleveland.com she was bullied "every day in elementary and middle school," back in 2010.

Even Zac Efron says he struggled to fit in because of his interests.

"I was a geek, I was into musical theatre, which isn’t perceived as the coolest thing," reported Now magazine in 2009.

"I was a gawky 17-year-old, a skinny, awkward kid. I was a late bloomer. Growing up was hell."

Even Taylor Swift was left out by her classmates but this lead her to start songwriting and ultimately put her on the path to global stardom.

"The whole reason I started writing songs was because I was alone a lot of the time," said Taylor Swift in an interview with Ellen DeGeneres in 2010, who said she was never invited to parties when she was studying.

Listen to The Surgery on Radio 1 at 9pm, Wednesday