As a Middle Schooler, I heard countless stories about Upper School – some calming, others stressful. Many of my Middle School friends would say “Grades only matter in high school!” I was particularly intimidated by several rumors about the Honors Physics class, which is known for its arduousness and intense dedication.
Several of my freshman (now sophomore) friends told me high school would be relaxed: if you did your work, it would go quickly. But others told me it was the direct opposite: keep your guard up and watch for the curve ball in your homework assignments and exams. So when I stepped through the doors leading into the Upper School, I was somewhat muddleheaded.
On entering Upper School, I expected a mixture of calm, exhilaration and tension, based on the information my helpful freshman friends gave me. After the initial excitement of the first week, the second week was tranquil, and the assignments were light. The third week of school was more intense but still somewhat prosaic.
The fourth week, however, was a week of topsy-turvy. There were exams, paragraphs, and quizzes around the corner, and I felt glad that I paid attention in class, took copious notes, and did my assignments correctly. But overall, the routine was similar to that of Middle School despite the workload being twice as heavy.
Even though Upper School demands twice the effort and dedication compared to Middle School, it also offers twice as many opportunities. The number of clubs in the Upper School is around twice as many as that in the Middle School. There are clubs similar to Middle School and some entirely different clubs.
Additionally, Community Time is built into the daily schedule to participate in myriad opportunities, such as listening to a speech by a person in our community, like Jennifer Borrero, or participating in school-wide events, like the Activities Fair. Ostensibly, I was pleased with the idea of free periods, something we certainly could not experience in Middle School.
I anticipated stricter expectations of how a student behaves in Upper School. In Middle School, we received detention only after we got three advisor notices or for a severe infraction. For the enthusiasts of detention, I have some good news! You can earn your detentions with minimal effort.
During my second week, I witnessed a student immediately get detention for having a cellular device out in the hallway, violating the school cell phone policy. Luckily, I don’t bring my phone to school, and thus cannot violate this policy.
Additionally, it was in Upper School that I heard about the Honor Council, the mysterious organization that handled honor offenses. This strict behavioral expectation informed me to be diligent and take extra care to abide by the school rules at all times.
The most significant change from Middle School to Upper School is the heightened level of responsibility. In Middle School, you’re expected to take responsibility for your actions. In Upper School, it’s a non-negotiable requirement. If you’re called to the Honor Council for an offense, denying it when evidence suggests otherwise will only worsen the situation.
In my Honors Physics class, the teacher expects students to be proactive in their studies and seek help when needed. This class is a clear example of the increased power and responsibility students have in Upper School.
During my first month as an Upper Schooler, my most significant memory was the Activities Fair. It was overwhelming, but in a good way, to see over 60 clubs in the Middle School Green sharing what their organization was about. It was also shocking to know that almost whatever I could think of as a club existed. The best part, other than the free food, undoubtedly, was the passion the student leaders put into promoting their club. That is one of the key memories I will take away from this.
Looking forward, I expect various new opportunities to rise, and with them, the workload and responsibility. But with courage, determination, perseverance, and grit, I am confident that I will be able to tackle these obstacles, and make the most out of my freshman year.