High school students give out advice to eighth graders

There are many emotions that upcoming freshmen might have but that’s why they can get some advice from students that are already in high school.

Right now that eighth graders are leaving to high school for ninth grade, it’s a big deal because they are going to have a big change in school with new people, new teachers, new campus, new rules, and new expectations. High school students have past those emotions already and have many things to tell incoming freshmen and some advice to help them out.

Junior at Thomas Jefferson High School, Freddy Gomez, said,  “For high school there will be a variety of programs and clubs to join so incoming freshmen should try something new and stay active.” Freddy suggests that if students in ninth grade are having a hard time with work or just concerns that they should ask a teacher or staff about it, to not stay quiet because that won’t solve anything. When he became a ninth grader he wished that someone would had told him to have fun and to give all the effort he had because they won’t be in high school forever. “One thing, never procrastinate, it always gets to you in the end which makes you lack and the quality of the assignment would be more better if you actually put your time and effort. Take your requirements seriously because in high school is where you learn how to be a responsible independent person,” said Freddy.

Senior at Maya Angelou Community High School, Maricruz Hernandez, said, “Soon to be freshmen students will definitely encounter numerous challenges and the best solution to any challenge is to ask for help. Ask peers, teachers, and counselors for help [they] will make all the difference in the world when solving a challenge especially when it comes to solving a challenge involving schoolwork.” Maricruz believes that some of the best things about high school are the various sport programs, visual and performing art programs and non academic programs that are available to all students. Her favorite thing about high school is competing against other high school’s sport teams. “Throughout my four years of high school, the single most important thing that I’ve learned is that high school has been the complete opposite of the descriptions people gave me in middle school. I wish I had known that high school is the best place in the world to truly identify yourself and meet people that you will forever remember,” said Maricruz. She said that the experience of students in the classroom is based on the student’s attitude towards their peers and teachers. She suggests that ninth graders should be positive and open minded in order to have a pleasant learning environment in the classroom. Maricruz said, “The best advice that I can give to new high school students is to meet regularly with school counselors and really establish a close relationship with them. Counselors are the best people to know in high school they will support you and guide you to the best of their ability when you’re feeling lost or helpless.”

Sophomore at Orthopedic Medical Magnet High School, Pablo Ramirez, says that transferring from middle to high school is a big change with the classes and the structure of almost everything. Pablo thinks that if freshmen are having trouble with anything they should simply just ask to get a better understanding of it. “High school won’t be as hard as you imagine and it’s okay to be a bit nervous just remember that you won’t be the only one there on your first day of school because there is going to be people coming from many different schools who won’t know each other so just meet new friends,” Pablo said.

Senior at Animo Ralph Bunche High School, Alejandro Alpizar, wants the new ninth graders to start off strong and not procrastinate on their work. Alejandro said, “When students are struggling in work they should stay after school for assistance or just ask a friend for help if they know about the topic.” Alejandro says that eighth graders should be happy that they are going to high school because they are going to lead themselves to college. “For all those incoming freshmen never take high school as a game because then you will eventually regret it,” said Alejandro.

Freshmen at Student Empowerment Academy New Tech High School, Kevin Mendez, knows that when entering college, students can become more involved and realize what they are interested in as a career. That students should take on challenges and persevere. “Ninth graders in their first day of school should feel excited and passionate about they are about to learn, don’t think negative about high school or even of dropping out because you are going to lose a big opportunity in your life,” Kevin said.

From middle school to high school, is something big for those eighth graders going to ninth grade, leaving their memories and moving on to making new ones.