The jump from Middle School to High School experience (POV of a Freshmen after 1st semester)

By Samuel Merrawe, Staff Reporter, The Pawprint

Have you ever wondered how the transition from middle to high school feels? You’ve come to the correct place. The first semester of the academic year 2022-2023 has concluded. Half a year has almost passed, and let us look back on some exciting events that occurred this year in high school and how the transition went.

This year in high school brought many amazing memories, many pleasant things, many difficult times, and an overall semester full of surprises. From my perspective as a freshman, the tension began towards the end of eighth grade. It all began a few days before graduation. Thinking about how our grades will begin to matter for university the moment grade 9 begins. In my perspective, middle school was designed to prepare students for high school. I thought I was prepared. I was mainly anxious about our grades actually counting, and that once I started high school I wouldn’t have a social life, I wouldn’t have time for sports, and I thought that we as freshmen would be made fun of since we were four years younger. So much stress was coursing through my mind. I began receiving emails shortly before summer began informing me that we would need to complete summer homework in order to be prepared. It was stressful thinking about transitioning from an easy grade where teachers handed you everything to being independent and accountable for deadlines and grades.

The first day of high school has arrived, and as I go up the stairs, it was weird that I wouldn’t be stopping at the second floor, and for the first time in my life, I’m walking to the third story of the building. It felt completely different from middle school. The third floor was so much bigger in my opinion.   The first two weeks were fantastic; it seemed so much like middle school. Yes, grades matter, but to be honest, I didn’t find it all that difficult. Seniors didn’t say anything to the freshmen, and we were all having a good time. I was having so much fun and so much freedom. I expected to lose my social life, yet I had plenty of free time to hang out with my friends on Friday and Saturday while both studying and training for basketball. I had a balance of all.

I found it simple after a few months, but math and Arabic were quite difficult. However, I was adaptable and skilled in other areas. We got a lot of tests before and during winter break. Majors were quite demanding, especially math and science because we had extended assessments. Majors were extremely tense and nervous, while minors and assignments were far less stressful; they were straightforward.

The month of January was a living nightmare. Every class has a major. A major in science, math, history, English, pe, Arabic, journalism, and theater, as well as two-semester examinations in math and Arabic. As well as several minors. I was terrified. After a stressful month, the month is over, and I performed very well with a 3.6 GPA. Lower than I had anticipated, yet it was fine with me. 

There was one bright spot in all of this. We had a lot of exciting events, such as a Thanksgiving feast with the entire high school, and we even had a dodgeball tournament as part of the fall festival. We performed community service hours and went through a lot as a high school.

I can tell you from personal experience that it is stressful at first, but as you get used to it, you will be fine.

Semester two has just begun and so far it is quite straightforward. As long as you put in the effort, you will be fine. Trust me. 

Advice from a freshman would be to continue working, attempt to improve your time management and go see a counselor if you need assistance. However, my biggest advice is to work hard in middle school to adapt to high school more quickly.