Amazing World of Writing!!

            Imagine your first day of high school; a day you’ve idolized in your mind since elementary school. Everything seems as if it is going well, but then you notice that the whole student body is laughing at you as you stroll into the cafeteria. You looked down and see toilet paper stuck to your shoe. You have no way to escape the embarrassment. You wonder if you’d ever be able to forget this image, and not be referred to as the “toilet paper kid” for the rest of your life.

           “High school typically starts each fall with about 350 freshmen. About 70 of those students will drop out during their high school career,” explained Dr. Mike Cowan, High School principal. One third of all students say they drop out because they feel as if they are failing school. This is most likely because they are under a lot of stress, between balancing their social life and school life. Some kids worry about high school even before graduating eighth grade. “ Honestly, I do fear going to a huge new school. This is mostly because I would no longer be around the people I am familiar with, plus the fact that I'd be stepping into new surroundings, seeing different people, and learning new things/facing difficult challenges,” says Tiffany Vuong, an eighth grader in Joseph B. Cavallaro Middle School.

                  When asked how future high school students prepare for their coming school year, Rebecca Khaimova stated, “I go shopping for school supplies two months before school to find what I need. I ask other kids what they are going to get, and what they needed to get for high school. I’m also concerned about my appearance for high school. I already bought some clothes. I would say it’s somewhat of a priority, knowing that I will no longer be wearing school uniforms.” 

                     Students in eighth grade have admirable qualities that can be useful in getting to know people and gaining friends. “The qualities I possess that will help me make friends is loyalty, kindness, and relation to others. Loyalty is a good quality to have because it displays that you will always be there for a friend when they are in need. It also proves that you will never let that person down. Kindness is a good quality in order to show your caring towards a person. It also proves you are a person who is willing to help others. These qualities keep an everlasting friendship.” Out of twenty one students asked, seven said they’d rather have a friend be trust worthy, out of all other qualities. They admitted that it’s because they need to know that their friends will not to anything to lose their trust and respect. If some of their secrets got out, they could be embarrassed, which is one of the worst things that could happen during high school.

                 One of the easiest ways to make the tough transition from Jr. High school to High school is to take part in a high school transition program with a few different activities. Most principals stated that they expected fewer students to drop out when they had the right social group to help them. This is because they feel that their student won’t think their alone. Students who go to specialized high school are apt to feeling more pressure. “To prepare for the Stuyvesant experience I looked over SAT books and advance topic books. Stuyvesant is a very competitive school so I feel pressured that I must do well. I understand that things will be different since I will be with the city’s top students, so I will have to work harder in order to maintain my grades,” confessed one of the eight students who made it to Stuyvesant from Joseph B. Cavallaro, middle school. “ The workload increased dramatically. Junior high was much more relaxed. In high school, the teachers are stricter and there are more deadlines,” said Scott, 16.

                   The best way not to be in shock in your first couple weeks and months of high school is be prepared to make changes, be flexible. If you fall behind on notes in class, try using a laptop to take notes, or a voice recorder to save lectures given during class. If you’re not the type of person who usually goes to after school activities, give it a try. Take some time to pick a club that is right for you. Think about your interests first, and search for a club that matches that criteria. This will allow you to be exposed to a whole new group of people, therefore, making a whole new group of friends. These friends may be your age or even older. The older kids have more experience and can spread some advice your way.

                     Friends are a major part of high school and life. They’ll always be there for you when you need them the most. They are your major support group. You should always turn to them when you need help. Ms. Huliaris recalled giving her friends advice during high school which helped relieve their stress. Some times it’s hard telling your parents about the things that are happening in life. “Sometimes I feel awkward telling my parents some of the personal problems that I’m having, so I usually run to a friend for help,” said Alexa DeAssis, 13. Remember, you don’t go to high school to find your husband; you go to find your bridesmaids.