Dear FreshmEn,
By KRisten Harriott
I want to begin by saying Yes, IT IS true.
High school can be the best four years of your life, it does get better., and time does fly, and quite quickly, no matter how slow those particular Mondays feel.
I know this, because I was once in your position, as any senior once was: simply green. But it is from there, the bottom, where we all started. Four years ago, I was in your shoes: taking honors classes and thinking AP Government would be a breeze. Four years later, I'm happier than I've ever been, accepted into Harvard, my dream college, and grateful. Never have I grown as much as a person than over my four years spent at Northview, but by no means am I saying it wasn't difficult. Yes, it is true: Northview is a tough school, with tough subjects and tougher competitors-- as there will always be in life. Yes, there will be great days, and bad days-- perhaps the bad may sometimes overshadow the good-- but if I could leave any advice, it is to remember where you came from. Hold it tight, and grip it harder than you do your phone or best friend. That is what forms who YOU are, not the grades placed in Infinite Campus, or achieved labels from extracurriculars. That is what colleges hope to see from YOU four years down the line.
Your next four years are in front of you, and what you do with them is crucial.
I know this, because I was once in your position, as any senior once was: simply green. But it is from there, the bottom, where we all started. Four years ago, I was in your shoes: taking honors classes and thinking AP Government would be a breeze. Four years later, I'm happier than I've ever been, accepted into Harvard, my dream college, and grateful. Never have I grown as much as a person than over my four years spent at Northview, but by no means am I saying it wasn't difficult. Yes, it is true: Northview is a tough school, with tough subjects and tougher competitors-- as there will always be in life. Yes, there will be great days, and bad days-- perhaps the bad may sometimes overshadow the good-- but if I could leave any advice, it is to remember where you came from. Hold it tight, and grip it harder than you do your phone or best friend. That is what forms who YOU are, not the grades placed in Infinite Campus, or achieved labels from extracurriculars. That is what colleges hope to see from YOU four years down the line.
Your next four years are in front of you, and what you do with them is crucial.
Dear freshmen,
Despite what your parents may say, no, their word isn't set in stone. I think as a collective whole, we forget that although our parents may have watched us grow up, we too watched them grow and mature; life doesn't simply stop just because you're an adult. However, it is true that they do have more wisdom and guiding experience, meaning, it is important to listen to your parents. Heartache, stress, and sadness aren't ideas foreign to adults: we all have bad days; we all become lost every now and then. Seeking help from a guiding light shouldn't be something ashamed of, no matter how proud you may be, or sure of your answer. We learn something new every day. That being said, no one knows YOU more than you; despite all parents wanting the best for their children, it is important to realize the difference between wanting the best, and enforcing an idea of achieving the best. Potentially this may sound silly now, but if you find yourself trapped between juggling more extracurriculars than your schedule can hold, more APs than you have time to study for, and is stressed by the idea of joining clubs, seeking leadership, and volunteering within our mere spare hours, remember my advice.
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I was once told that when you love doing what you're doing, whether it be a profession or activity, it no longer becomes 'work'. Think about it: would you consider hanging out with your friends work? What about a football game? Or watching a Northview drama production?
When we find things that we love, we naturally fall in place, loosing the obstacle of "catch up" that many Northview kids face: procrastination becomes easy once "work" is traded for something enjoyable, bringing me to my second point.
When we find things that we love, we naturally fall in place, loosing the obstacle of "catch up" that many Northview kids face: procrastination becomes easy once "work" is traded for something enjoyable, bringing me to my second point.
Dear Freshmen,
Please don't fall into the trap of searching for APs rather than searching for subjects. Before you decide on a schedule, decide your interests. This is what makes middle school, as useless as it may seemed then, so important. Starting sixth grade, begin dipping your toes into the foundations of certain fields: join debate (Do you like public speaking? Do you have powerful ideas? Can you make a statement?), join Jr. Beta (Are you a people-person? How important do you regard community?), join Newspaper (Are you a writer? How powerful is your persuasion?), or try out an instrument (How fast can you read music? Can you play along with a group? How precise is your mental timing and fingers?). Middle school opens the doors to finding these opportunities to explore what you love; it is too partially the reason why connections are rotated, rather than chosen, by middle schoolers. Being forced to take P.E., computer science, home economics, and art aren't simply to fill classroom space, but to open doors. Many of my friends didn't seriously pick up a paint brush until they took middle school art, or honestly tried to code, until Business Education. Today, they are taking AP Art, Computer Science Principles, and other tracks related to their interests. From this, they grow and solidify what they want to be in life. Potentially, you may have not done this, but that doesn't mean it isn't too late. Join clubs now to find out what YOU like, not your parents, and focus your efforts. By the time you reach junior year, where you're able to take as many APs as you want, the APs you choose are of no interest, but give AP credit, rather related to what YOU love, and grows you as a student. Walk in wanting to take something out of a class other than AP credit, and slowly, you'll feel that stress lower. |
Dear FreshmEN,
But finally, although it is important to remain grounded, it is also important to live high school: attend Homecoming and Prom at least once before you leave, become close with a teacher or club, find a friend group who loves you for who you are, rather than for help, and dress up for a football game every now and then. Part of what makes high school high school is the culture surrounding it: at Northview, this means being a Titan. Build up others around you and encourage involvement: from there, you can see leadership qualities you were once stressed about grow within you naturally instead of forcefully, and you'll grow socially. Too often do students revolve around achieving an end goal: a 5 on an AP exam, a college, or final grade. Every now and then, it is important to drop all worries and live in the moment: time does fly. Only yesterday was I a freshmen too; now, I'm approaching my last semester in high school, about to say goodbye to the town and classmates I've grown up with. As for regrets, of course I have some. Every senior does if you ask them, and please do when you can. Mistakes are both powerful memories and powerful tools; don't be afraid to make them, or ask about them. If I were able to talk to my freshman self, I would advise to seek more risks. I fell into the trap of following a "normal": middle school conditioned me to want to take as many APs as I could and orchestra, but without challenging my box, wanting to seek outside of it, I never would have discovered the journalism community I'm within today that's become such a powerful part of my identity. So much so, I wrote about it within my college applications, and it brought me to accomplish my dreams; proof that that subconscious feeling of needing to cure cancer, or find a new species is what's needed to "make you unique." |
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DEAR FRESHMEN,
I leave you with this: only YOU know you, only YOU have lived your life, and only YOU can decide where it leads. Find your interests and exploit the opportunities that come your way; don't be afraid to open doors, and take risks. Be grounded and certain before you make decisions, but too remember to be a kid. Four years may seem like a mountain in front of you, but soon, you'll be at its peak, looking back at the person you once were, and the person you are now. As for college, the greatest advice I can leave with you is simply remaining truthful. Again, as long as you are passionate about what YOU aspire to be, your passion will be woven in between your words and just as vocal. Instead of writing to an audience, write to yourself-- write FOR yourself, and see where your mind takes you. Be bold! Dare mighty things! Shoot for the stars! You never know where you might end up. |
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