Dear Rising Freshmen,
It's time to get used to that name for us: freshmen. We will no longer be little middle schoolers that worry about who is in what relationship, or what new drama spiced up over the summer. For some of us, entering high school will be a new start or a new building that we will travel to every morning. It's time for us to let go of the hand we’ve been holding onto and get ready to walk on our own. Since not all of us have older siblings in high school or older friends, we don’t really know what high school is going to be like. In order to learn more, I spoke to a couple of high school students around the area about their experiences, and with rising freshmen about what they feel and expect before entering high school.
What do eighth graders think high school is going to be like?
“To be honest, I don't know, and I’d like to keep an open mindset because I am ready for anything in high school.”
-Jacklyn Alvarez, eighth grade, Match Public Charter Middle School
“I think it will be too much work. They will have more expectations from us in high school than in middle school, which will make it more stressful.”
-Sarai Ramirez, eighth grade, New Mission High School
“High school is going to be more difficult, but it’s going to be worth it when you get to college and all the AP classes were helpful.”
- Adrian Santana, eighth grade, Match Public Charter Middle School
What are you not ready for about for high school?
“Tests—like the SAT and whatever college prep we need to go through—those are the things that I am scared of and I'm trying to avoid, but can't.”
-Jacklyn Alvarez, eighth grade, Match Public Charter Middle School
“I'm not ready for the school work or meeting new people. Not because I don't like meeting new people, it’s because I'm not comfortable with new environments.”
-Julia Gouboth, eighth grade, Match Public Charter Middle School
“I’d say the drama.”
- Sarai Ramirez, eighth grade, New Mission High School
What advice do high school students have for the incoming freshmen?
“Try to connect with your parents because they are [the] only ones that will support you. Also, say ‘Hi’ first in the hallways, even if you don’t get one back. It gives you confidence and makes people know you are easygoing and fun.”
-Lila Jane Carr, 10th grade, Needham High School
“Try not to get overwhelmed with work. Remember, all the other freshmen are in the same boat.”
-Stephen Carr, 12th grade, Needham High School
“I’d say to lower your expectations a little bit, and if you're going to make mistakes, do it while you’re still a freshman.”
-Gabriella Diplan-Lopez, 12th grade, Roxbury Prep High School
“Do all your work! Don't think that at the beginning of the year you can slack off because it will hurt you at the end.”
- Chandler Farias, ninth grade, Match Public Charter High School
“Try to be cordial with everyone, especially if you are going to be spending time in the same classroom with at least 25 percent of the kids for the next four years. You should be polite to everyone, [...] high school is a chance to have a fresh start, be yourself and focus on what's important—like school work.”
-Yasmin Mohamed, 10th grade, Snowden International High School
What do you wish you would have known before entering high school?
“That staying home on a Friday or Saturday night isn’t the worst thing that’s ever going to happen. It took me a while to realize that I can still have fun on the weekends without my friends.”
-Lila Jane Carr, 10th grade, Needham High School
“There is always something that you can do to get your grades up. Always explore all of your options and do your homework. Its gonna suck, but like, when you get to college everything gets better.”
-Gabriella Diplan-Lopez 12th grade, Roxbury Prep High School
“Freshman grades are a quarter of your whole high school career. When you apply to college and are sending in your transcripts, having really good grades freshman year counts.”
-Yasmin Mohamed, 10th grade, Snowden International High School
Overall, we should know that things don't always go as planned and that high school is nothing like the Disney movie High School Musical says it's going to be unless you make it that way. I am lucky enough to have many acquaintances in high school who tell me what it’s like, but this isn't about me. This is for those who don’t have older people to guide them. And yes, I know this might not be applicable to all high schools, but this is just to give you an idea. High school is a place where we will all grow and figure out how to handle things. It may take a while, but we will all get there.