At Freshman Orientation last night, I couldn't help but think about how much courage it must take to be a 9th grader at J.L. Mann.It really is so much bigger here...and the other students (especially the juniors and seniors), they look so old. And the teachers...we seem so confident in what we're doing, so mature and grown-up.
It's a major step forward in a person's life: entering high school. But...we all do it. And somehow, some way we make it through.
COURAGE is key in the drama program at Mann. The ability to press on even when things feel uncomfortable, awkward, difficult makes ALL the difference.
So...you upperclassmen. Share your stories. How did you get through the first few weeks of high school? What challenges do you face now that make you feel fearful? How are you handling them?
5 comments:
Hmm, cant really think of anything that really stood out....for all the new freshmen they should just know not to skip out their whole 10 days so fast...save 1 or 2 days at LEAST if you can. You'll want those for the end of the year, so you dont have to sit thru exam periods that you dont have to take, and to do the homework. Every teacher i had, that was mainly what it was to pass, was the homework. Making friends at Mann isnt hard, cause everyone is super friendly and there is usually a group for everyone. Just dont be fake, turn in the homework, and dont skip out all your days. Oh, and watch out for the nurse, cause she's not too friendly at times. She just doesnt put up with crap, so dont expect a middle school nurse. =]
The first few weeks of high school I was sort of a loner. At least at first. My older brother was a senior, and he introduced me to a lot of his friends, who, to my suprise were really nice to me. All that stuff you hear about seniors being really mean to freshmen isn't true... unless the kid deserves it. Like anon said, mostly everyone is nice.
Also someone to watch out for -- the attendence lady. She's kinda mean too.
Fortunately for me, I have no challenges I'm facing (at least, none that I'm afraid of). I'm working a full time "third-shift" job, and Kevin and I will be moving in together within three weeks (yay!). After we can save up for money, one or both of us will be headed to the local tech school. He'll be going for his HazMat, and me for Pharm Tech (with some drama/english classes, of course. =D ).
So freshman -- just make sure to NOT slack off the first half of the year. That way, you can slack off the second half! Haha, just kidding =](But really. Slacking off the first half of the year will really screw you over).
Ah, let me give you so advice from one who's been there and done the wrong things freshman year.
My best friend and I realized right off the bat how much freedom they were giving us compared to what we were used to in middle school. So we were a bit unprepared for this sudden freedom to do whatever we wanted. And honestly, the outcome was terrible. We became horrible people 9th grade. We bullied kids til they cried, threw thick batteries at girls we thought were stupid (like...SHAY-HEAD. My nickname for a girl I particularlly disliked.), destroyed school property, tried to break every rule possible (minus drugs and drinking and guns. I will not assoicate myself with any of that crap.), and lied our butts off everytime the admin tried to write us up. We were the kids that your parents warned you of, the ones they always said had emotional problems and loved negative attention. Yeah, that was us. Nobody talked back to us, even some of teachers looked the other way so they didn't have to deal with us.
So listen guys, don't do that as freshmen. You find you'll aqquire so much freedom that the more you push the boundries the more you become distanced from what you should be striving for. The public school system is a crock--yes. But the sick thing is you have to at least pretend to do well in that fake "Schooling" system in order to get into the college world, where if you make the right choices (IE: watch your drinking, don't do drugs, attend classes etc), you find out how all those years of going thru that waste of space system was so worth it. College classes, even ones at Tech, are beyond awesome, especially when you find that teacher that just clicks with you. Learning is suddenly fun and you look forward to it when it isn't being forced down your throat in an unpleasant manner.
Hahaha, I was pretty aggressive and willful in 9th grade, believe it or not. I'm such a pushover now...that's funny now that I think about it. Hahhaha. I guess not having friends or not being able to trust anyone makes you that way, huh?
how did i get through the 9th grade? luckily i had a beard and told everyone i was in the 11th grade.
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