Making the switch from middle school to high school can seem like a daunting task for many students—myself included. I can recall with clarity the feeling of walking into a classroom full of strangers on the first day of school, trembling with incertitude, nerves, and unanswered questions. I eventually figured it out—for the most part—but I know I would have appreciated an article like this back then. Of course, I should preface this by saying that my advice isn’t universally applicable. I’ll try to keep it general, but take my words with a grain of salt.
The most common questions people tend to ask regarding high school have to do with the workload—the amount of homework, the difficulty of classes, and the pace of learning. While there’s no clear-cut answer to any of these questions, none of your freshman classes should have overwhelming amounts of homework, especially if you aren’t taking too many honors or advanced classes. The difficulty of your classes is dependent on you and your choices. If you have a cell phone, I heavily suggest keeping it silenced and in your backpack. Paying attention in class makes all the difference in the world, and you’ll be thankful later on. You should also try to distance yourself from phones, and other forms of distraction, while you do homework. Procrastination is inevitable, but you should strive to avoid it in any way that you can. (This only becomes more applicable the further you get in high school.) I find it helpful to keep my Chromebook open on my desk and place my phone far away from me while I work. You should experiment and figure out a method that helps increase your productivity at home. Maybe it’s going out to a cafe or the library to do your work. Maybe it’s listening to music. Whatever it may be, identify and utilize it.
Physical and mental health are instrumental to your well-being. Trust me, I understand the urge to stay up late scrolling endlessly on your phone or working on overdue homework. I understand wanting to eat a bag of chips and a cookie instead of a healthier lunch. As much as it is reiterated by adults, your health is paramount to your social and academic success in school. Try not to skip meals or miss too much sleep. Remember to take breaks while working. Talk to a school counselor or trusted adult if you feel especially emotionally overwhelmed. If you are really struggling in a class, ask a teacher for help. Don’t hesitate to take advantage of the resources provided to you and ask for help if you need it.
Many high school students choose to participate in sports and clubs. It’s hard to emphasize just how important these extracurriculars are; it’s a perfect place to meet new people and pursue your passions. IHS has a plethora of interesting and fun clubs and sports, all of which are worth looking into. You can simply type “Ithaca High School Clubs” into Google and click the first link to see a list of IHS clubs and when they meet. You can visit the IHS Athletics page to view information about sports. When it comes to clubs and high school in general, it is especially important to check your emails regularly, since most IHS clubs welcome members throughout the year and will send schoolwide emails every week. If you have a cell phone, get the Gmail app. Make it a habit to check your emails whenever you check your phone. If you feel hesitant about committing to a sport or a more strenuous club, check out a drop-in club (like The Tattler—everyone is encouraged to contribute, so check out one of our Writers’ Meetings!). If you don’t enjoy it, you don’t have to return!
Universal lunch is a relatively new feature of IHS, and it definitely has its flaws and strengths. It ensures that you’ll have the same lunch period as your friends, but also that the lunch line will be across the cafeteria. Don’t worry too much about that part—the line moves pretty quickly. What you might instead wonder about is where to eat. During the warmer months of the year, unless you have diabolical pollen allergies, I’d recommend you eat outside. The Quad and the Arts Quad are popular spots. They provide a break from the fluorescent lights of the classrooms and let you absorb some sun before you head back inside to finish the rest of your school day. The cafeteria is a perfectly fine place to eat during winter, though it definitely gets pretty loud. My suggestion for the cold months would be to find a quiet classroom in which to eat—rooms open for lunch are all designated with signs. Just make sure to be respectful of teachers’ space! You should also make sure you dress for the weather. Classroom temperatures vary around the school, so it’s good to layer hoodies over t-shirts in case it gets especially cold or hot. And bring a water bottle! If you don’t have one, talk to a school counselor. They’ll find a way to get you one.
High school can seem like the end of the world. As you navigate your way through the year, take a step back and remember that it’s important to have fun. Don’t drown yourself in work, and don’t stress too much about college—it’s still four years away for most of you. You don’t have to take yourself too seriously; try to have fun! Go to that school dance. Sign up for that club. Talk to your deskmate in English class. You’ll all do great, so have fun and good luck!