In these next few paragraphs you will hear from Scienceites. Former freshmen and sophomores give their personal advice and opinion on everything from grades to friends, teachers to cutting, and sports to studying. Read through each situation and hopefully their advice will help you. We all want to thank the students who participated in this survey and we are sure it will help many students.
I remember freshman year so clearly. I was nervous as hell and I was scared to walk into school. I was so embarrassed because my mother wanted to walk me to my homeroom, just so I would not get lost!
The first thing I remember was the huge mosaic that was in the lobby. Then I saw one of the school security men. Well, at least I knew that I was safe! I guess that all things went smoothly after the first few weeks of school. To anyone who is nervous or scared of Science it's okay. You may get lost and walk into the wrong classes, but that's just in the first week or so. Just take the right pace. Don't think you are so cool you can handle the entire high school process yourself!
Some of the best personal learning experiences I have had are with friends. By the time you are a sophomore, you know who your true friends are. They are the ones who will always be willing to stick by you while you are attempting to resolve your problems while you are in school and outside of school. It is about time you realize that you are now a young adult and you are expected to act like one and be mature enough to find friends whom you can trust.
I say, be carefree and willing to make new friends. Some people can say that our school is "fake" and so are the people. Don't be who you're not and don't be afraid to be who you are.
Wow, I can't believe that our school is actually asking students for advice about the school. High school is a time to learn from experience and a time to meet people that you can say were your friends through the hardest times of your life.
Studying is definitely not the most important thing at Science. It is only a part. I admit that the pressure will start to build and your grades are what the colleges look at. Yet there are so many more things that high school is about. Take a look and see what it is you want high school to be.
One of the things I like the most about our school is that there are so many kinds of people to meet. So many people are willing to be your friends. I say be assertive in your schoolwork, but don't be too much of a bookworm.
I went through freshman year dreading to go to classes and hating everything around me. I guess it was wrong on my part. I just was not willing to make an effort to make new friends in a new place. Some people are hard to get along with, but don't be too blind, there are many really nice people at Science! Don't be afraid to be yourself. You'll meet so many people that you can really learn to love and trust!!!
Don't worry there are plenty of wonderful people at Science. Ignore those who think that they are something special, trust me there are so many people who can give you a friendship that you will be happy about! Don't be apprehensive... be yourself.
It's so sunny outside and the campus seems like the perfect place to be! Hey, better yet you have a substitute in two of your classes! What a perfect day to take a rest from a tormentful day at school. So why not cut?" These thoughts will really start to sound familiar after the first few weeks of school. You may think that there really isn't anything to worry about, but there is!
It's fun to go through school hanging out with your friends and not sitting through ninth period, but listen carefully- don't cut class! It will come back to haunt you. That's no joke.
Clear your cuts and don't be afraid to talk to your teachers. Some people are willing to help you. It's really up to you. Once you start to cut class in excessive amounts it may seem impossible to stop. But don't give up. Talk to a dean or anyone who can help. Just hurry up and go back.
I had a teacher my freshman year who was a very ambitious man and there wasn't anything that seemed to be wrong with him. But since the first day of class I felt this tension between him and me. For the entire year I felt that he really disliked me. When I raised my hand, he never called on me. When I did an oral report, he wouldn't have anything nice to say. I just knew that this man really hated me. I never said a word to him my entire freshman year. I did the work and that was all. If something like this happens to you, I suggest you don't go through the entire year feeling uneasy. Talk to your teachers. During my sophomore year I confronted him and he told me that he thought I just didn't like him as a teacher. I guess we were both wrong.
There are so many things that I wish I had done during my freshman year. I guess in many ways I acted as a hermit for an entire year. The most important thing that I was worried about was my school grades. I never thought about joining a team sport or getting involved in any school activities. I regret this so much.
I know that schoolwork may come first to you, but there is so much you may be missing out on! Don't be afraid to try out new things! Join a team, even if you think that you aren't very athletic. Get involved in school activities!!
At Science there are so many opportunities that students have. Every student knows that in order to do well you need to start your school year off with good habits. I think that thing that really messed me up during my freshman year was that since I wasn't use to the load of work I was given by my teachers it was very easy to become discouraged. I guess it all started when laziness started to control my life.
From all the extra curricular activities, the clubs, teams, and the incredible amounts of schoolwork, you really need to make yourself a schedule. Time yourself adequately. Try not to spend the majority of time on one activity because your grades may start to slip. If you are at a comfortable pace right now and you are happy with it, then stick to it.
Looking back at my freshman and sophomore years, I realize that I could have done a lot better if I had spent more time concentrating on my studies. I must say that my school habits were very unstable. I procrastinated so much that I couldn't adjust to change. I realized that I would do better on my exams and schoolwork if I spaced my time correctly.
It is very important to study for tests ahead of time, instead of cramming two weeks worth of notes in one night. Things really start to get rough at times. Teachers may start to give three of four tests in one day. Every student is faced with one or two painful reports a term. Teachers really make it tough for you to have a social life. Start doing the research early!!! Don't wait until the last minute.
The thing that really made my first few years at Science exciting was that I was on the swim team and the basketball team as well. I know that school would not be as much fun if I hadn't joined these teams. Many of my friends really regret not joining a team. Just do it!!
There are certain things that you can do to prepare yourself a little for college. Things like extra curricular activities community service and good grades will really help. Think about what classes are important to take and try your best.
I was really disappointed because I wasn't aware of how important achievement tests were. Now I have to take so many in the next two years. I really think that it would have been more convenient if I took one or two during my freshman and sophomore years. There are many things that you find out about, that are necessary for college. Look into them!
Peer pressure is a word that all students hear inside as well as outside of school. We all know the logo "Be cool, Stay in School", and "Say no to drugs" as well. In high school, these things are real important to remember. It's easy to be influenced by other students around you. Make sure you are prepared to take the consequences of your actions because there may not be someone to tell you what's right and wrong but you can always find some staff or students to help you!
Arranging your time is one of the most important things to concentrate on. Many students are troubled because they don't leave enough time for everything they do. You need to know what's important to you. Choosing how much time to spend on schoolwork and other activities is something you must determine as the year goes on. Although there is a lot of stuff that is going on, you must all remember not to lose track of what your priorities are.