A letter to freshmanWelcome to the halls of VHHS. Welcome to a time of new opportunities and challenges. Welcome to the start of the next four years of your life. Starting high school opens the door to an abundance of different feelings: anywhere from stress to excitement, or a mix of the two. Yet as time passes, I hope nervousness dies down, and you all feel more
comfortable in this school. I understand the stress of this new environment (I was in your shoes three years ago), but as the year progressed, the new environment started to feel like home. I was able to connect with classmates and teachers, and find the joys of being in high school. So, here are some tips for how to make the most out of your high school experience.
1. Get involved
The start of high school is the start of so many new opportunities. VHHS has a wide range of clubs, so if you’re interested in anything from Ping-pong, to books, to business, VHHS has a club for you. Putting yourself out there to try a new activity is hard, especially if you don’t already know people in it. However, it is a great way to make new friends and connect with the school. “[Getting involved] was the greatest thing I did,” Gil Liandisha (10) said. Liandisha is involved in varsity cheer and student council. As a freshman, he put himself out there to get involved, and it paid off.
2. Don’t compare yourself to others
Everyone’s high school experience is unique, and everyone’s adjustments to highschool are different. Don’t get down on yourself if it takes you a while to adjust. Instead, embrace the one-of-a-kind opportunity high
school offers. For me, I had a very hard time adjusting to the rigor of high school Biology class, but I was able to go to the ARC and meet my teacher in order to better my understanding and help me adjust. Instead of giving up, I was able to adjust.
3. Learn to learn, not for the grade
Many things change when you are switching from middle school to high school. One of these changes is grading. “You don’t get a grade for every little thing”, Katherine Janicek, English teacher, said. Instead she recommends students focus on learning and the good grades will follow Janicek teaches freshmen and seniors, so she is able to see how students adjust to grading in the short and long term. Janicek recognized that it can be a hard shift in mindset, but the faster you embrace your curiosity, the more you will get out of classes.
4. Don’t be afraid of upperclassmen
Many upperclassmen have been in your shoes before. Matthew Prigorenko (9) felt nervous about the high expectations of adjusting to high school. Prigorenko’s feelings are all things many upperclassmen (myself included) have felt and understand. If you have questions or concerns, don’t be afraid to ask them. It can be
anyone, from your PE senior leader to an upperclassman in a club you joined. When I was struggling with classes or worried about an upcoming event, I was able to turn to the seniors on the dance team. They were a big help, and I try to offer the same compassion to the freshmen this year.
5. Do your work/don’t procrastinate
The workloads in middle school and high school are different. If you stay on top of it all, school gets less stressful. Whether it is by using a planner, google calendar, or your notes app, keep all of your assignments organized so you know what needs to get done and when. Also, try to not start an assignment or study for a test the night before. Instead, plan out how you complete the task throughout the days leading up to it being due. This will allow you to get work done without the stress of a quickly approaching due date. I hope you take this advice to heart. Despite the worries of starting high school, it is an amazing experience. Make the most of it, and have fun!
All the best,
Layla Schumacher