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The Life of a Freshmen: Myth vs. Reality By Elizabeth OBrien
Take every day one day at a time. If you're having a bad day, just get through it and do what you need to do for the next day. The next day might not be great, but try your best, that's really what most teachers love to see.
When you come up from FMS to CHS, you are told that high school work is harder and that you’ll only have to take gym for two years. I’m here to share what reality is for a freshman student. Below, you will find a variety of responses that answer what it truly is like to enter the high school environment.
Mrs. Printer (8th Grade Teacher):
– High school is a whole new playing field.
– Just make sure you try and experience all you can in those four years. Join something. That’s how you make connections. It’s a time to explore and find something that you can connect with and that you enjoy doing. You should always go for it and not be afraid, but not if it overwhelms you. Be a part of the community. The high school will be a great time of your life if you get involved. (Her daughter was very reserved and didn’t do much in high school and she had a miserable time. My brother did the same thing and struggled all through high school)
– The key is to balance your schedule. Balance is the key to being successful.
Mrs. Lamarre (8th Grade Teacher):
– High school is the first step towards the future. The work is more challenging, and there are more expectations at the high school. You’re more independent.
-You don’t have to be an athlete to be in something. There are many clubs and that way kids can branch out, form, and create new relationships. You create long lasting relationships that can last into adulthood.
– In English, they prepare them so that they can create a creative writing piece in a shorter time than they’re used too.
Mr. Chace (Assistant Principal of 9th & 11th):
– I think that this year’s freshman class, overall, is one of the best ones I have seen in some time in terms of overall maturity, responsibility and respect towards one another and their teachers.
– Also, the demands of high school in terms of workload, time management and the rigor of the work are often significantly different as opposed to middle school- which can lead to frustration and anxiety that displays itself in lots of different ways over their first year.
– Juniors are typically motivated and ready to go when they arrive. It’s the most important academic year they will have, as it’s the last one that colleges will see start to finish.
-Freshmen are just trying to figure things out when they get here. Where do I go? When do I go there? What do I have to do? How do I do this? How do I know if I am doing it well? Who do I see if it’s not going well? What’s expected of me? Freshmen are trying to fit in, to figure it out and determine how to be successful. They are in an entirely different place, but they are laying the foundation for success in the future if they navigate this year well.
Mrs. Clunan (Guidance counselorl):
-The classes are 90 minutes instead of 40 minutes classes, which can be a shock
-That it’s normal to be nervous and anxious when beginning the school year. Every student is nervous when they first get there. Just take it day by day, do exactly what your teachers ask, do your homework, and come to see your guidance counselor teacher to talk to if your unsure or having a hard time.
Caroline Dowling:
-The biggest problem from my freshman year was balancing volleyball with all my classes. The volleyball season begins immediately when the school year starts and it is a very demanding commitment. Coming from a middle school where the workload is very light, it was a very big transition to learn how to balance a complicated schedule from daily practices to honors classes.
-I would say my problem is still the same. During the first two months of the school year, it is very difficult to keep my head above water. Especially now, my classes are even harder than what they were freshman year and the commitment to volleyball has only gotten larger now that I am on the varsity team. But once the season is over, it will be a lot easier to manage.
-I overcame these problems by managing my time well. I would do as much homework during advisory and before games so that I would not have to do a lot of work late at night. I tried my best in class and on tests so that my grades would stay up.
-My advice to a freshman adjusting to high school is to utilize AC Lab. This is a great use of time to get all your work done or even go see a teacher. The workload is much different than middle school and it is very important to not drown in the amount of work. Having good time management skills is the key to adjusting to the high school workload.
Elizabeth O’Brien:
-Also, take every day one day at a time. If you’re having a bad day just get through it and do what you need for the next day. The next day might not be great, but try your best, that’s really what most teachers love to see.