Transitioning From Middle School To High School

​By Arya

The transition from middle school to high school is both a significant and nerve-racking change. Middle school is a laid-back environment where the work is not too serious, while high school becomes increasingly difficult, as the semesters go on and dictates your future career. Going into high school can be extremely intimidating and can feel very overwhelming due to the constant pressure of meeting goals and deadlines. 

As an anticipated high school student, you are entering an unfamiliar atmosphere with a much denser school population, a building that can be difficult to navigate, and burdensome. On the plus side, there are diverse extracurriculars to take part in including clubs, electives, and sports. However, because of the many more opportunities you can take part in, there comes many more responsibilities. 

Graduating from middle school and moving onto high school can trigger a cluster of emotions, including stress and anxiety., but there are also many other aspects to high school than these feelings. Since the middle schools in the area tend to feed into the high schools, the people in your classes will range from those you have known prior, to complete strangers. Although this can be slightly spine-tingling, it is a great opportunity for you to make more friends. These friends can also become study or notetaking buddies, which can turn out to be of great benefit to the both of you.

Being engaged with friends and the school apart from your classes is also crucial for the best high school experience. Friends may come and go, but overtime, you will determine who your true friends are and make great memories with them along the way. As for high school events, try to take part in as many of them as you can. If I have learned anything from COVID-19, it is to take advantage of what you have and what you can do because anything can happen. We can’t predict the future.

Moreover, if you have the option, you could take much more rigorous classes, such as Honors, AP (Advanced Placement), and IB (International Baccalaureate). But this also means you would need to learn how to manage time more efficiently in order to avoid being bombarded with stress. A methodical way of managing time when it comes to school is writing down all the homework and/or tasks you have for that day or week, then creating a schedule of when you are going to do specific assignments and/or tasks. Personally, I use the Notes app on my phone to jot down all my assignments for school, as well as any extracurricular tasks I have to do. As I complete them, I remove them in order to keep track of what is outstanding. Alternatively, you could use a journal, calendar, or another app on your phone - Whatever you’re most comfortable with!

When it comes to actually completing the school work, there are many efficient ways of doing so. Some examples include:

1. Taking advantage of any time given to you during class to finish any assignments.
2. Trying to get back to work as possible after school before any other obligations. This will help you carry over your work mindset from school in order to keep motivated with your tasks at home.
3. Prioritizing assignments with earlier deadlines.
4. Designating time slots for each assignment.
5. Formulating a study plan for tests and start studying as soon as possible.
6. Putting your phone somewhere that is not easily accessible.

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Having a good work ethic and proper time management will not only help you throughout high school, but also through your post-secondary career and the rest of your life.

I know going into high school can be frightening, but some of the experiences and memories that are made throughout the four years you’re there are ones you will never forget. Like all things, high school has its ups and downs, but it will be some of the best four years of your life, so make sure to enjoy them to the best of your abilities!