April 19th, 2022
How you can overcome the barriers that come with being a freshman in high school
There is no more daunting of an experience than being a young impressionable ninth grader that finds themselves swallowed whole by the sea that is secondary school. At this stage in your high school career, it is very easy to become overwhelmed and unsure of what step to take next. However, the purpose of this article is to serve as a credible source of advice to you, from myself, a senior student at Secord. Though I do encourage you to take this advice with a grain of salt, I must say it has proven fairly successful in my case.
The first step to academic success in your ninth grade year is to become aware of what it even means to be “successful”. Success does not necessarily mean having the highest average of your class, nor does it mean having the most extracurriculars and clubs. The definition of success is entirely up to your perception. Nonetheless, there is a certain foundation you must have in order to be able to accomplish any of your goals for success: balance. Understanding how to achieve a healthy balance between school, work, your own health, hobbies/interests, and family and friendships is crucial to learn in your early years.
Living a balanced lifestyle in high school will prevent you from becoming burnt out and promote overall wellness. If done correctly, you will generally find yourself more energized and feeling more fulfilled. This will look like learning how to set boundaries for yourself, such as not taking on too many shifts at work to ensure that you are able to finish your school work on time. It can also look like better balancing your school work schedule to ensure you have enough time to hang out with friends and family and participate in your hobbies.
Secondly, it is vital that you understand what it means to be a well-rounded student. A well-rounded student is someone who demonstrates academic excellence in addition to thriving in other areas such as school leadership, volunteer work, employment and other extracurriculars. Just having good character traits is also an important element of being well-rounded. Dedicating time and effort into being a well-rounded student throughout your four years will help you immensely as a senior student, when you will be applying for many scholarships and awards. The reality is that there are many individuals with high grades, hence, you need to make yourself a multifaceted student who stands out from the rest.
Last but not least, learn to utilize the resources around you to the best of your ability. Take the time to research what services are available to you within the school community to make the most out of your high school experience. There is absolutely no shame in receiving help for
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