Roleplay is about making decisions, and the more you engage your imagination before playing, the more fun
you are likely to have.
Here are a few questions to consider:
What sex are you?
The 'Special Girl' is commonplace; the 'Special Boy' very rare (I've known of one!): Both are welcome. This is a very basic decision; once you've taken this there is still much more to do.
How old are you?
This will affect the way you interact with other students; 11 is a much more innocent age than 15 for instance, 13 is the really obnoxious age ('Everyone hates the Third Year' was a maxim at my comprehensive), by 15 you’re probably just about turning into a human being again.
What’s your name?
Some people use their own, some adopt another one. My preference is the latter: Simon Winter is definitely not me, not even me as I was at 14, so the name defines where I stop and he starts. He’s a good deal tougher, braver and sexier than I was: I’d have been scared stupid at the prospect of being caned; it’s water off a duck's back to him.
How smart are you?
It's not easy to play cleverer than you are, but bear in mind you are playing someone much younger. Teenagers are generally less articulate than grown-ups, and often more devious: They have more that they are uneasy about disclosing for one thing.
Where do you want to fit in?
How you succeed at this will depend on your skills and luck, but figure out your intentions first.
So are you a leader, a bully, a hanger-on, a swot, a sneak, an oik, a goody-goody, a seiren, a slut? Any combination of the above?
What do you want?
Don't answer 'To get whacked'; you may want your character to get whacked, but he or she doesn’t want it at all: Being whacked is one of those occupational hazards. The question is, 'What is the objective that leads you into the kind of trouble that gets you whacked?'
For instance 'I want to fuck x/y.'
Or 'I want to get rich.'
Or 'I want to be a hero.'
Or 'I want revenge.'
Or 'I want to escape.'
What do I do to get it?
This is the stuff that gets you punished: Your strategy.
Maybe 'Try to do well in lessons.' (And get belted by a Punk later for being a swot.)
Or 'Be good at sport.'(And get hammered by a Heavy for showing off.)
Or 'Dress impressively.'
Or 'Plan, scheme, cheat and betray.'
Bear in mind that the other students will also have agendas, which may conflict with yours.
What about your parents?
The general rule with all great kids' fiction is 'get rid of the parents' (trust me on this). LCPS doesn't let you go home at 4pm, so effectively the parents are gone.
But, you must have some, so who are they, and why did your loving Ma and Pa see fit to send you to this horrible school?
Do you have a secret?
Most people have; I certainly had a few as a teenager! Your secret is your weakness, so breathe it at your peril; it could get you punished, make you look weak or stupid, or lose you friends. I know what Simon's secret is; few others do.
Have you done it yet?
It's the question that occupied most space in the teenage mindset: You might give the impression that you have, but really? 'Doing it' is full-on penetrative sex, preferably with mutual orgasm; snogging, hand jobs, tops 'n fingers, and going down, while fun, are not 'Doing it'.
Take a look at American Pie if you don't remember all this.