Making It Through the Last Weeks of Middle School
Cope with all of the anxiety of going to high school. When you were in your last year of elementary school, you were probably nervous about middle school. Now that you're graduating middle school, you may be worried even more about high school and your future career. You could be worried about things like the new school itself, not knowing anyone there, your schedule, drama in friendships, college, grades, and your future. While the amount of assignments and your level of responsibility will be larger (and it's normal to be nervous), remember that at the end of the day, high school is still school. You'll likely go through the same routine of arriving at a specified (though likely different from middle school) time, attending class, doing after-school activities, then coming home and completing your chores and homework. In addition to going to high school, it's normal for middle schoolers to also be stressed about college and their future careers. Remember, you don't need straight As, and you also don't need to attend the highest-rated private school near you. These expectations are not realistic, and likely to cause you more stress.
Start studying for finals. The semester (or trimester) is likely ending, which means multiple final exams will come up. These cover topics that you've learned from the end of the term to the first days of school, so a lot of information will be covered. Review topics that you've forgotten, and maintain a study schedule. Start thinking less of maintaing a social life, and start working harder if you haven't yet and harder to maintain a decent gradebook. Remember, your grades are ultimately more important than your social life. Grades come first in priority, as they are important for your future career. Study longer than usual if you have the time. Homework usually decreases as the last week of school approaches, so you should have time to study for a few minutes longer. You'll need to study more for final exams and assessments, which typically review all of the topics you have learned for the entire school year.
Finish applying for private high schools. If you're applying to private high schools, you've probably written essays, got recommendation letters from teachers, and taken one of the high school placement tests (e.g. the HSPT, TACHS, or ISEE) already. Now, the only thing left to do is to keep your reputation up and your gradebook looking polished. If your private high schools require you to attend an interview for them to consider you, start preparing for it. The interview may be online or in-person depending on the school. There may also be a certain dress code you have to follow to attend the interview. The interviewer may be the main person asking you questions in one type of interview, whereas another type may require you to actively hold an informal conversation with the interviewer, typically a teacher, head of the school, or a student of the high school. If your schools don't require interviews, focus on your grades in school.
Deal with senior slump. This term is more commonly used when referring to some seniors in high school (12th grade), when they think that because they're almost done with school, their grades aren't as important, and this reflects in the quality of work they turn in, and their overall work ethic (they usually end up being lazy and slacking off). This can also apply to people in the last years of elementary school or middle school. Like in previous years, your grades will matter the entire year, so you should finish off the year (and the school level) strong. Try not to slack off—in fact, you should work harder in the last few weeks to boost your grade. It will make your gradebook and report card look amazing.
Dealing with Eighth Grade Graduation
Prepare for 8th grade graduation. As the last week of school is starting, 8th grade graduation ceremonies will start, too. If you're graduating 8th grade this year, you may be unsure of what the ceremonies will be like. The ceremony will be a few minutes long, and there may be a party that you can attend. All middle schools are usually a little different from each other, but they typically will at least have a ceremony of some sort. Wake up early and choose a nice graduation outfit. Choose something formal, like a polo shirt and trousers or a blouse and skirt for the actual ceremony. For the parties and celebrations, you can wear a shirt and jeans. You may be required to wear a graduation gown and cap to the ceremony. If you are, wear a blouse or a polo shirt underneath the gown. Your school may have provided a specific ceremony and party dress code. If they did, follow this. Smile when you go on the stage. Many schools let their 8th grade graduates stand on stage to receive praise, applause, and a fake diploma for their graduation. Smile naturally, even if you feel scared or not confident. Fake it until you make it!
Attend the graduation party if your school holds one. Either following or before the ceremony, most middle schools will hold a party of some sort. Again, every school is typically a little different, but the party will often feature things like snacks, drinks, and games, and your family members might even be invited, too. Talk with your friends during the party and get their contact info in case they're going to a different high school than you. You can also ask your entire class if you want everyone's contact info. You can also sign your classmates' yearbooks if you want with a thoughtful message. Reserve longer messages for really good friends, and a short, yet sweet message for acquaintances or regular classmates. After the meal, you'll likely have a lot of options for what you can do. You may be able to talk to your classmates and teachers, play games, or dance to music, to name just a few things. However, be sure to follow the school rules!
Cope with leaving middle school. For some teens, leaving middle school can feel exciting, as you'll meet new friends, leave annoying/toxic classmates, and plan for your future. Other teens may feel quite anxious due to new expectations and the new school itself. Some teens feel dejected due to leaving the school they've known for so long (especially if it's a private school with grades K-8) and the friends they've made throughout elementary and middle school. If you're excited for high school, ask your friends which high schools they'll be attending. You may see a few familiar faces, and a lot of new ones. You can usually take a tour of your high school towards the end of eighth grade, if you're nervous about navigating the building. You may have already toured the school if you'll be attending a private school. It may also help to research the school's grading procedures, bell schedule and rule book, so you know what to expect throughout your day. It's perfectly normal to cry if you're sad. Let out your emotions, and reminisce about your time at the school. Lean on people you trust to support you through this sadness.
Preparing for High School
Know which high school you are going to. You should start thinking about high school as early as you can. Elementary school may have been too early to prepare for any useful things (since you haven't learned as much yet), but middle school's a great place to start. Knowing the high school you'll be going to is the first step in preparing. If you're going to a public high school, you are likely going to a high school in your school district. Search for your school district and see which high school you may be going to. This information may also be given to or told to you at some point during the school year. If you're going to a private high school, you may need to wait until March for the high schools you've applied to to give you results. If the high school you get accepted to isn't one of your top 5 dream schools, that's okay! Private high schools are often more challenging and competitive than public ones (unless you're going to a competitive school district), so you should be proud of yourself for making it into one.
Apply to private high schools. Starting from the beginning of 8th grade, you should start to apply to a few private high schools of your choice if you'd like to attend one. This may seem scary, as you likely have never applied to a school before to get in. The high school application process is similar to a college application process- you write an essay detailing a personal experience, and you ask your teacher/s to write a recommendation letter to your private high schools. The essay is usually about your own life and something that you would like to highlight from it. Make it as descriptive and detailed as possible so it's interesting and captivating. Remember to catch the admissions team's attention with your essay's introduction, and proofread it for any typos or grammar mistakes. It's also a good idea to have a family member or friend look it over for any errors you might have missed. The essay doesn't have to be about a life-changing event. It could be as simple as a nice vacation with your family, moving to a new school, getting a new sibling or pet, or making cookies with your grandparents. Start asking for recommendation letters before the end of the calendar year. Before late November and December arrive, you should ask a teacher, during office hours or after class. There is usually a 2-4 month window of asking for recommendation letters for each teacher. Plan to ask starting in September until early November. If you have participated in class and done other things to give the teacher a wonderful impression of you, the letter should be mostly positive.
Talk to an older sibling about their experience in high school. If you have an older sibling, chances are that they have experienced high school. They may just be a freshman, or they could be a sophomore, junior, senior, or even in college already. If your sibling has a large age difference, they may not remember their freshman year of high school, as they are worrying more about university/college and their future careers. If there's a smaller age gap between you, your siblings will be more likely to remember their high school experiences and eighth grade. Talk to them about your concerns, like homework and peer pressure. Ask your older sibling to share some funny experiences that they had in their first years of high school to make you feel better about it.
Understand how high school is different than middle school. High school and middle school look pretty similar, but there are many differences. In high school, most students are pretty mature already and can juggle homework, extracurriculars, and friendships. You will also need to be extremely responsible, since teachers will expect you to manage your own time. Teachers in high school are just people who teach; they aren't calendars or reminder apps, so don't go to high school thinking that they will remind you of due dates and tests and answer your unasked questions during class. In high school, you will likely be offered AP courses (in the U.S.). These stand for Advanced Placement, and are college-level courses offered for high schoolers to challenge themselves if they are ahead of their peers or competitive. Office hours will likely still exist in high school, but you'll have to manage your time more wisely. Teachers in high school often have to teach a lot of curriculum to teach in a short class period, so they can't answer every question during class. They aren't being mean—they simply do not have the time to go through every student's questions. You'll need to find your own time to ask them your question, or send them an email instead of hoping that the teacher calls on you. Lockers will still exist in high school. They will most likely be the same, and you open them in a similar way or the same way. Everyone in high school will likely become more mature. You will typically hear less of potty humor, immature memes, and being disruptive in class. Even your younger classmates are likely to mature. The classroom is usually more serious, as most people are worrying about their grades/material instead of joking around or slacking off during class (unless the person's personality is naturally silly or lazy).
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