Freshman Year Reflection

Whoa. We have a week left of freshman year. If that doesn’t shock you, then I don’t know what will. Let me just preface this blog by saying this year has been FULL of change (both good and bad). I am so glad that I ended up at Skyview and so thankful for all the relationships I’ve formed.

I started off freshman year by attending the summer dance that Skyview held and invited all of the incoming ninth graders to. To be honest, I was terrified of the idea of going to a new school and not knowing anybody at all, but I just decided to brave the nervousness. So, I got a new outfit and ventured off into the great unknown.

Me, right before the dance

When I first walked in, I was determined to talk to someone so that I didn’t spend the entire night alone. No matter how I appear, I am not an extrovert. Even though I may seem social, being social is something I have tried to become better at this year. Just like any other skill, it takes practice. Anyway, I looked around and spotted someone who looked as out of place as I did. I introduced myself and she said her name was Ashley. We hung out throughout the night and I was super grateful that I didn’t spend the entire night by myself.

Me on the first day of school

I went to all of the orientations and was so excited for high school, so when the first day of school rolled around, I was pumped. Let me just say that going to those somewhat silly orientations was worth it because I already knew people on the first day of school. Now, most of you know the rest of the year’s story from there, but let me just say this year has been one of the craziest of them all. I have changed a ton and I think this year helped me discover who I really am even further. I’m sorry if this sounds cheesy, but freshman year has been a roller coaster of emotions and self-discovery. To anyone going into high school, I would tell them to do what they want to do. Don’t let anyone limit them. Don’t worry about what people think, as long as they’re happy. Also, on a less inspirational note, don’t try too hard to break the high school hierarchy. Freshman are at the bottom and that’s just life.

To wrap it all up, I hope that the years to come in high school are just as amazing as this year and I get to know more about the people around me and myself. 🙂

Finals Week Tips

For the free write this week, I’ll be sharing a list of helpful tips and tricks for the upcoming finals week. Some of these are my own pieces of advice, and others I found online. Here it goes!

1. Use your planner, or make your own schedule for the subjects you are going to study everyday and for how long.
2. Use your half-days wisely, and don’t pretend like you ran out of time.
3. If you don’t understand something (even if it seems simple), go ask the teacher or go to peer tutoring*. It is better to ask and get a quick response than to just assume you know it.
4. Find a way to relieve your stress and don’t feel pressured to be studying 24/7.
5. Complete all of the study guides you are given, but also go a step further and create a visual or audial representation of the material.
6. Don’t stay up late. Like I mentioned before, having a half-day means that you are able to study during the day and don’t need to study during the night.
7. Study all of the material everyday, and only stop studying the subjects you’ve already tested on. Don’t wait until Thursday to study for Friday’s tests!
8. Go on a run, workout, dance, do yoga, or do some physical activity, it will enhance blood flow to the brain and just leave you feeling healthier overall.
9. Turn social media and unnecessary technology off while you are studying.
10. Give yourself a break at some point in the week. Go hang out with friends or family after a hard study session to relax.
11. Know what to expect on the exam as far as formatting goes. Are you allowed to have a notecard or a page of notes?
12. Even after you feel like you’ve finished studying, study for ten more minutes.
13. Create a rewards system for yourself. For example, tell yourself that after you finish studying for math and history, you can watch an episode of your favorite TV show.
14. For any final that includes a test of comprehension of literature, review the literature both in the class copy and from a different source (maybe Sparknotes or even a movie version).
15. Especially for math, use Khan Academy. Sometimes hearing a topic taught differently will make all the difference in the world.
16. Find a place to study that will not distract you, but still keeps your mind awake. In other words, don’t study in bed or in front of a TV.
17. When taking the actual final, remember that most essays are graded on how you express your ideas, not what your idea is.
18. Use all of the time you are given for the exam because you can also proofread or check your work and make improvements.
19. Eat breakfast! It is so hard to focus while you are hungry!
20. Wear comfortable clothes, chew gum, or do anything that will take some weight off of your shoulders.
21. Do not forget to charge your calculator or refill your mechanical pencil! These simple tasks can make or break your testing day.
22. Try your hardest because these grades do count.
23. Remember that after finals, it’s summer and you get three months off!
24. Don’t stress about exams you’ve already taken.
25. Just to recap all of the tips, don’t stress but work hard! 🙂

    *A side note about peer tutoring: I know it may seem embarrassing to go to peer tutoring, but all of the tutors understand your situation and we all need help sometimes, so don’t be afraid to come in for help!