May 2011 - Jefferson County Public Schools

Dear Incoming Freshmen
Your freshman year of high school is right around the corner. While high school may seem scary at first, it is not as
bad as you may perceive it to be. Relieve yourselves of any negative thoughts that may have filled your minds before this
moment. There are lots of positive things that you, as a high school freshman, can look forward to. There are school related
activities: basketball games, football games, school dances and many other events. Furthermore, there is an abundance of
fun opportunities that you can partake in that will allow you to make new friends, spread you wings and find your identity
in high school. Adding to the fun things about high school, is the serious side, academics. Although your classes will be
harder, there are some tips that can better prepare you to succeed in high school and beyond, as well as some
extracurricular activities you might want to join, along with steps you can take to better prepare you for life after high
school.
How many of you have had one of your parents nag you about high school? They say things like, “You need to start
taking responsibility for yourself,” or “You’re going to have to be more organized.” You might not want to hear this, but
they are right. The percentage of failing high school students is higher their freshman year than any other year. Now, is it
correct for me to assume that everybody wants to be successful? I mean who wouldn’t want to grow up and not have to
worry about living paycheck to paycheck, or to be burdened by not finding a job. Succeeding in high school is the first step
to succeeding in college and eventually succeeding in the real world. To better prepare yourself to succeed in high school
and beyond is to become more responsible for your schoolwork and your own actions, while also being organized. A high
school teacher will not allow you to turn in assignments late. To avoid this situation, keep an organized list of your
assignments and their due dates in an agenda book, along with an organized folder for every class. Organize a time for each
assignment, take the responsibility upon yourself to complete the assignment and turn it in on time. Here’s a tip for big
assignments or projects, don’t procrastinate or wait until the last minute to do the project or assignment. I mean, think
about it, if you wait until the day before to start a big assignment, guess what you’re going to be doing all day. You’re going
to be vigorously and stressfully working on the assignment until you complete it. Depending on the assignment, you could
be up all night finishing it, and while you’re doing that, all you’re going to be thinking to yourself is, “I wish I hadn’t waited
until the last minute to do my assignment.” These are a few basic things that you should master before you go to college,
where classes are even harder. If you master these basic skills, you will never misplace or forget about an assignment, and
hopefully turn it in on time.
In addition to the classes you are required to take in high school, you should join an extracurricular activity. Joining
an extracurricular activity is something that you should consider greatly as you think about attending high school. Joining an
extracurricular activity can have a positive effect on your high school experience; it can show your peers a different side of
you that simply could not be shown in the classroom. One thing you should consider is joining a sports team, as well as an
academic team. For many people, being on sports teams brings them out of their shell, making them friendlier, more
outgoing, and more confident, and ultimately, a well-rounded person. As a result of this, it can allow them to make new
friends, which is something a lot of people struggle with as they enter high school. A bonus to joining an academic activity is
college related. Colleges love to see academic activities that you have participated in, as well as athletic teams. It shows
them that you are well rounded, and not just a one-trick pony.
If you are still in eighth grade, actually choosing your high school is one of the most important ways to prepare for
high school. You should have already begun your high school search, it’s never too early. It takes time to find the right
school and this is a decision that should not be rushed. Unfortunately not all high schools are filled with excellent teachers
and principals. You and your parents should take time to visit the schools and speak with the staff. The most important part
about picking a good high school revolves around academics. You and your parents should also look up the school’s
academic success rate, dropout rate, and percentage of graduates that attend college. And speaking of college, one day you
will be attending college, so you and your parents should also speak with the college services department to see how
helpful they can be. In addition, you should also look to see what type of extracurricular activities that the school you are
interested in has. Extracurricular activities, whether academic or athletic, look good on college applications. Maybe you
should look for a sport that you have been playing since you were little, or maybe an academic club that offers things that
interest you.
You may be a little nervous about going to high school, but a little bit of nerves is expected. You should relieve
yourself of all the negative thoughts you have towards high school. Picking a great high school is somewhat of a hard
decision, so the proper time should be allotted to making the right decision. considering the administration, extracurricular
activities, college help, and academic success of the school. High school is a place where you can socially develop like a
butterfly; you can spread your wings and grow as a person. High school offers you the opportunity to express your
personality outside of the classrooms, through extracurricular activities, which often leads to making new friends. And
although the work may get harder, the responsibility is now on you. I greatly encouraged you to become more responsible
and organized while you enjoy all the things high school has to offer.
Quiyana Murphy
CHS Junior