As always, with the start of a new school year many new freshmen come into high school unsure of what to expect. Some are excited for new experiences while others are overwhelmed by the changes that come with this transition. High school is very different from middle school and it can take a long time to adjust. Lambert High School, in particular, is known to be rigorous and competitive. This is due to pressure from tough classes and time-consuming extracurriculars. Additionally, Lambert is a large school with many students, much more than middle school. Students must now learn to alter the routine they have had since middle school and overcome the challenge of high school.
Because the school is so big, many students find that their middle school friend groups have gone in different directions; this can be hard as the support system people once had is now gone. Because the environment is entirely new, it can be difficult to adapt.
“The overall atmosphere of high school compared to middle school, that was a big change for me,” Lambert freshman Prital Srikanth said. “I didn’t expect there to be nearly as many people or the school to be so big, and so just the little things were harder for me.”
Compared to middle school, high school can appear massive, with seemingly endless hallways and hundreds of classrooms. Additionally, the population can also be much more than what freshmen are familiar with. The population of eighth graders at South Forsyth Middle school, a feeder school into Lambert, is about 470 students, in which about half attended Lambert. In Riverwatch Middle school, there were about 504 eighth graders and almost everyone went to Lambert. Combining these two schools makes a population that is almost double what new freshmen were used to. This can be a big change for students.
They also have a more demanding course load, requiring hours of studying every night. Along with this, another issue can be the pressure of expectations from parents, teachers or by the students themselves. Freshmen push themselves to perform well academically so hard that it can start negatively affecting them. Doing well on every test and quiz is close to impossible, despite this, students try to achieve it even though it can be harmful. They will be stressed and can even develop mental health problems.
However, as overwhelming as this may sound, there are brighter qualities to high school as well. Students have much more freedom as they are able to choose their classes and pick from various extracurricular activities. There are also many ways to get involved without making a major commitment that allow students to enjoy activities outside of academics. This can include joining a club that aligns with their hobbies, or trying out for sports team that they like.
“Go to sporting events, go to watch a musical production or a play that our theater students put on, or join a club,” Lambert counselor, Mr. Travis Church said. “If you take advantage of the things that are available to you, it could be a great experience.”
Doing these activities can enhance the journey of high school. Extracurricular activities can provide students with time to relax and have fun. Some of these activities, such as joining a club or sport, can also allow students to develop key life skills. This can include leadership, communication and teamwork. It can also give students life-long friendships, cherished memories and a sense of belonging, all of which can make high school an unforgettable experience.
Although transitioning to high school can seem overwhelming, Lambert can take actions to help. One potential strategy could be to give students an idea of the amount of assignments they would have to complete.
A common challenge for rising freshmen is the question of what classes to take. Taking a tough course load with many extracurricular activities can leave students with little to no free time and lead them to feel stressed. It’s important to have a balance of rigorous and easier classes. Teachers can give their students a schedule of how much homework and how many assignments they would have in a week.
Another critical part to adjusting is developing time-management skills. It is important to set aside time everyday for a number or tasks, which can include studying or getting help for harder material.
“ Well, one thing that I love that we have is the amount of resources that we have available to help students be academically successful; I don’t think it is something that you’re going to find everywhere,” Church said. “You can look specifically at the Lunch and Learn time that we give you… I would encourage the students to understand that if you are struggling, that’s a time when we have so many resources available to you to really try and make you as academically successful as possible.”
The school’s goal is to make all students successful, and they have the resources to do so. Students should take advantage of those resources and get help when they are struggling. Doing so can make a huge difference in their academic performance, and it will save time for the activities that students enjoy. `The school also provides counseling services to help students through academic planning. In addition, clubs and other extracurriculars can allow students to explore their interests and connect with others
The shift from middle school to high school can be tough at the beginning, but with the right resources and balance, high school will be a memorable experience to cherish for years to come.
