T H E S T A R T O F S O M E T H I N G N E W
By RYOTA T.
May 16, 2013
For the soon-to-be freshmen who will enter the high school society in the next couple of months,
here is a heads up about what to do and what not to do for your own sake. Freshmen are always
intimidated by the academics in high school and the upperclassmen that, in theory, make you do
things that you wouldn’t want to do. However, what you middle schoolers are envisioning is
barely what you actually see, hear, and feel, once you enter high school. The learning that you
have to face in ninth grade is not nearly as mindblowing as you think, and the upperclassmen
are as friendly and as caring as your actual friends. Even so, do not take these words for
granted. If you do not display your real personality and hide yourself away until life gives you a
reason to have to reveal yourself, it will be too late. And if you are not confident about yourself
yet, then here are some tips and advice so that you will be.
Boys and girls, in terms of the academic side of high school, the right way to be a proficient
freshman is to work your absolute hardest and to not procrastinate. Procrastination is said to be
the ultimate devil when it comes to learning, because even though it is the easiest and most
relaxing thing to do, it really does tend to hurt your grades as well as your ability to manage time
wisely. Having been experienced, all upperclassmen understand the feeling where an important
assignment is due two weeks from now, and you tell yourself, “I still have two weeks. No need to
rush things.” Well, this thought your mind tells you is nothing but an illogical theory. The reason
as to why teachers give students more than a week to work on these assignments is because they believe that we can manage our time properly,
make the best use of the time we have, and hopefully, easily turn in work by the time it’s due. However, over the past few years, more people are
turning work in late and are taking advantage of the late policy. This shows the teachers that students are actually not managing their time wisely and
at times, don’t show enough respect with the class-time they give us during the school day. The freshmen year of 2012-2013 are not proud of what we
have done, thus, we would like you, the Class of 2017 and beyond, to earn the teacher’s trust again, by managing your time wisely and efficiently.
Being an outstanding freshman is not just about work and grades. It is also about interacting and socializing with your own classmates and the
upperclassmen. At the beginning of the year, things may not come as easily to you as they do for other people. There is, indeed, a high possibility that
you will be in the position of authority, especially if you are one of the talented members of a sport or after-school club. There is also always that feeling
that the seniors or juniors will either adore you or abolish all your self esteem. However, the truth is, the upperclassmen will only ever end up interacting
with you if you’re willing to approach them first. This does not mean you can say whatever you want, because if you dare try treating them like dirt, you
will end up lying on the dirt. It just means that if you are being bullied or pressured by the upperclassmen, or even if you witness it happening to
someone else, tell them to stop. Eventually, they will. They’re not halfwits. The upperclassmen at this school are kind, caring, funny, and talented, so
don’t feel like you’re being paranoid for wanting to be friends with them. The upperclassmen are role models, not monsters.
Finally, I am sure that there are many of you who have regrets and “What could have been’s,” from your years in middle school. Well, for the people
who feel that way, coming into the high school society may very well be the best thing that’s going to happen to you. As you first step foot in high
school, you can recreate yourself, having been handed this great opportunity to start from zero, which is what many people in the real world would die
for. There is certainly going to be a rough road ahead of you in high school, and ninth grade is only the first step. I learned from a good role model and
friend, Chris Roon, a CA senior, that you will make mistakes and will have regrets, as you bump into obstacles on a daily basis, but what makes a
student really admirable is if they can overcome all the trials and get back on their feet. Do not be afraid to live, and enjoy high school. This is the start
of something new.
here is a heads up about what to do and what not to do for your own sake. Freshmen are always
intimidated by the academics in high school and the upperclassmen that, in theory, make you do
things that you wouldn’t want to do. However, what you middle schoolers are envisioning is
barely what you actually see, hear, and feel, once you enter high school. The learning that you
have to face in ninth grade is not nearly as mindblowing as you think, and the upperclassmen
are as friendly and as caring as your actual friends. Even so, do not take these words for
granted. If you do not display your real personality and hide yourself away until life gives you a
reason to have to reveal yourself, it will be too late. And if you are not confident about yourself
yet, then here are some tips and advice so that you will be.
Boys and girls, in terms of the academic side of high school, the right way to be a proficient
freshman is to work your absolute hardest and to not procrastinate. Procrastination is said to be
the ultimate devil when it comes to learning, because even though it is the easiest and most
relaxing thing to do, it really does tend to hurt your grades as well as your ability to manage time
wisely. Having been experienced, all upperclassmen understand the feeling where an important
assignment is due two weeks from now, and you tell yourself, “I still have two weeks. No need to
rush things.” Well, this thought your mind tells you is nothing but an illogical theory. The reason
as to why teachers give students more than a week to work on these assignments is because they believe that we can manage our time properly,
make the best use of the time we have, and hopefully, easily turn in work by the time it’s due. However, over the past few years, more people are
turning work in late and are taking advantage of the late policy. This shows the teachers that students are actually not managing their time wisely and
at times, don’t show enough respect with the class-time they give us during the school day. The freshmen year of 2012-2013 are not proud of what we
have done, thus, we would like you, the Class of 2017 and beyond, to earn the teacher’s trust again, by managing your time wisely and efficiently.
Being an outstanding freshman is not just about work and grades. It is also about interacting and socializing with your own classmates and the
upperclassmen. At the beginning of the year, things may not come as easily to you as they do for other people. There is, indeed, a high possibility that
you will be in the position of authority, especially if you are one of the talented members of a sport or after-school club. There is also always that feeling
that the seniors or juniors will either adore you or abolish all your self esteem. However, the truth is, the upperclassmen will only ever end up interacting
with you if you’re willing to approach them first. This does not mean you can say whatever you want, because if you dare try treating them like dirt, you
will end up lying on the dirt. It just means that if you are being bullied or pressured by the upperclassmen, or even if you witness it happening to
someone else, tell them to stop. Eventually, they will. They’re not halfwits. The upperclassmen at this school are kind, caring, funny, and talented, so
don’t feel like you’re being paranoid for wanting to be friends with them. The upperclassmen are role models, not monsters.
Finally, I am sure that there are many of you who have regrets and “What could have been’s,” from your years in middle school. Well, for the people
who feel that way, coming into the high school society may very well be the best thing that’s going to happen to you. As you first step foot in high
school, you can recreate yourself, having been handed this great opportunity to start from zero, which is what many people in the real world would die
for. There is certainly going to be a rough road ahead of you in high school, and ninth grade is only the first step. I learned from a good role model and
friend, Chris Roon, a CA senior, that you will make mistakes and will have regrets, as you bump into obstacles on a daily basis, but what makes a
student really admirable is if they can overcome all the trials and get back on their feet. Do not be afraid to live, and enjoy high school. This is the start
of something new.