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Taking a foreign language class at any level can be difficult.  You might find that you have problems remembering definitions, how to conjugate, and other things of that nature.  The best bet is to start as early as possible, but sometimes that is not an option.  Many people are not even exposed to a foreign language until they reach high school.  No matter what your grade there are different things that you can do do make learning Spanish as easy as possible.  In all levels of my Spanish education I used these tricks and they were a huge help to me.

Flash cards are your new best friend.  Embrace the idea of putting everything down on flashcards.  Blank index cards are the best things to use.  I liked to use a find tipped felt pen so it would smear or fade over time.  These flashcards can stay with you from Spanish I all the way until you finish your education.  Put the English definition of the word on one side and the Spanish on the other.  Periodically go over them even after the exams to be sure that the words stick in your Spanish vocabulary.  This will ensure that you master the language.  You can even use it for conjugations too, and it will help it sink in.

Watch television programming in Spanish or turn on Spanish subtitles for your favorite shows.  I am a nerd and I love watching shoes in Spanish so I can learn more.  At first I had no clue what was going on, but eventually as I kept studying I would understand more and more.  If you cannot handle all of the drama, then just turn on your subtitles for your English speaking shows in Spanish.  You can read it while hearing it in English to help your vocabulary grow.

Stay organized.  This is a tip for any class, but especially for Spanish.  If you are unorganized, then you will not be able to go back and look for certain topics and words for exams.  Typically early Spanish classes are done in sections by topic.  So one week you might learn words related to hobbies, and the next week you might cover foods and grocery.  Keep your assignments and flash cards in order so you always have them to refer back to.