As the new school year shifts into gear, the next class of freshmen follow various strategies to ensure a smooth transition from middle school to the high school mentality.
This drastic adjustment is an experience well known by all high schoolers. Yet after a few short years, most become accustomed to the ebb and flow of the schedule, finding ways to balance their schoolwork, activities and personal life.
A major factor in the acclimation to high school is open communication between teachers and students, which allows both parties to manage expectations and heighten productivity. Randomized surveys of PVHS students from various grades and teachers from many departments yielded no statistically significant difference in perceived homework levels between the two groups. This implied that most students and teachers are on the same page regarding class load.
However, the aforementioned study analyzed the effectiveness of student-teacher communication across all high school grades, not only in freshmen. Many freshmen do struggle to productively communicate with their teachers regarding schoolwork. Even though all freshmen eventually adjust to high school, the first weeks ー during which they acquire critical skills such as effective scheduling and relationship building ー are still an endeavor for most.
Unlike the majority, some freshmen adjust quickly to the unfamiliar environment, finding time to advocate for their education. “I can talk to them easily through [8th period] resource… I don’t have a lot of extra classes other than business, so I can use that time and talk to teachers,” said freshman David Gagnon.
Many freshmen still find it exceedingly difficult to communicate with their teachers, citing busy schedules as a barrier. “Some of my other friends who don’t have [8th period] resource have been complaining a little bit that they don’t have the ability to talk to teachers as much,” Gagnon added.
French teacher Melissa Lechtenberg advised freshmen to work around these barriers through the use of effective planning and time management. “Don’t be afraid to go in and speak with your teachers [and] meet with them during 8th period or before school,” she suggested. Student-teacher relationships also create safe spaces for students to destress, which is especially important for often-overstressed freshmen.
For many freshmen, the bulk of the struggle comes from the increased difficulty of time management. With the barrage of clubs, sports and work schedules on top of schoolwork, students often feel overwhelmed by the drastic increase of duties compared to middle school. To remedy this, Lechtenberg advised students to purchase a planner to prepare and use their time effectively.
As the year continues, the Class of 2028 will persevere and mature into experienced high school students. With new expertise in constructive student-teacher relationships and productive time management, they will learn to thrive in the high school environment and beyond.
