Now that school is starting back up, some students might be feeling a little nervous… especially the incoming sixth graders. As an incoming freshman to the high school myself, it was a huge difference for me as well: a bigger school, more students, and harder classes. Even I was a bit nervous. When asked about their new junior high classes,  sixth-grade student, Avalyn Frey, said, “There are a lot of classes and sometimes it is hard to get to them.” The junior high is definitely different from elementary school. Sixth-grade student, Brahm Weasner had this to say about his new experiences in junior high: “My favorite thing about being at the high school is having lockers.”  Even though some changes were not the greatest, there are some that students enjoy. Students usually love having lockers, new teachers, and different classes. 

     So, what advice should we give to these newcomers to the junior/senior high school? Sophomore Damian Franco said, “Advice that I would give to the incoming sixth graders is to be kind to everyone.”  Going to a new school can be hard, so you want to be the nicest person you can be. You do not know what anyone is going through, so always be kind. Sixth-grade students should help their classmates or even just help them open their lockers to be as helpful as he/she can.  Remember to always be respectful to everyone. Your words have quite an impact on people, whether you believe it or not. 

     There are many things students look forward to at the beginning of the school year, including football and volleyball games,  pep rallies, and cross-country meets. The football games are always fun because of all the different themes that you get to dress up for, and the pep rallies are even more fun because you get excited to go to the game! There are many things to look forward to in winter, including basketball games, swimming, and wrestling meets. The basketball games get really intense sometimes, especially during sectionals.  You can also look forward to new opportunities such as joining clubs, focusing on grades, and practicing self-care.

     Joining clubs will help students meet new people and maybe even help them come out of their comfort zone. Focusing on your grades is probably one of the most important things you can do because not only will it help you in the future, but it will also help you in the present. Getting good grades will show teachers that you are a good student. Practicing self-care is also very important because people need to prioritize their physical and mental health, whether that be getting exercise every day or surrounding themselves with people that they enjoy being around.

     In the end, coming to the high school is not all that bad if you think about it. There are many new things to look forward to and to be excited about. Remember, always be kind to everyone, follow the rules, respect others, and always be a King!