Welcome to High School! Middle school was a great time with a lot of support and less responsibility. Now that you’re in High School, in a brand new environment, there are some important lessons to consider. I will be briefly going over the following topics:

·      Larger campus

·      Larger student body

·      Increased peer pressure

·      Non-existent support

·      Larger workload

·      Oldest to Youngest

·      Class choices

·      Decreased Parent involvement

·      Grades count

·      Sports!

·      More teachers

I found that in High School my counselor didn’t have time to advise me at all. She had too many students to help and for the most part, her time was taken up by misbehaving or failing students. She had no time for successful students who just needed assistance in choosing classes that could benefit me and my acceptance into a college of my choice and because of that lack of direction, my path through High School was jumbled and confusing.

It is tough to balance all of your classes plus sports, yearbook or ASB, music and art. For the first time, you are expected to be responsible and independent in regards to your schooling.

In middle school, there was more interaction between you and your few teachers and now that you’re in high school there is a lot less one-on-one interaction between you and your many teachers. Someone who might not be ready for all of the independence of high school can fall through the cracks!

Don’t let that happen to you! According to Weber, more kids fail 9th grade than any other grade. In middle school, you had a lot less choices for classes, they are pretty much pre-assigned based on what grade you are in. You don’t have a choice to play for a sports team and grades don’t count all that much. Now that you are in high school, all of that is different! There are new stresses new environments, schedules, expectations, teachers and classmates.

 You are expected to choose classes and electives that will work for you, but you have to keep in mind sports and other extracurricular activities. In addition to added stresses of balancing your schedule and time, grades matter! Getting good grades in 9th grade is crucial! You don’t have to take AP or Honors courses, just make sure your GPA is high, setting you up for success when you take harder classes later.

Now that sports and being part of a team are an option for class time or after school, balancing school and athletics can be a challenge. However, being a part of a team or involved in school spirit provides an aspect of social interaction that can give you a new identity! Making a new identity through school spirit can ease the transition into high school a little less painful.

Another difference between high school and middle school is the increase in peer pressure. Peer pressure doesn’t just have to be about alcohol and drugs; it can be about your clothing, your eating habits, cheating in class, and many more. My best advice is to use your parents as a resource.

Unfortunately, it is common for parent involvement to decrease after you get into High School. Parents may think that because you are older and “responsible High School students” that you don’t need their advice, support or assistance anymore. That is not true!  They can support you in regards to your class schedule, sports teams, friends or peer pressure. Parental involvement is a major factor in your success, so let them help you! Considering the lack of assistance from counselors, you need someone in your corner willing to support you in whatever way you need. Let that be your parents!

I hope I have highlighted to main differences between middle and high school and by shining a light on the challenges, you may be more prepared to face them! Our next blog will be about more in depth ways to maintain balance and study efficiently. Rock on!