By Emily Hesp, Sadie DeArruda & Rahaf Mansur | June 21 2021 |
With each passing year new challenges arrive to make us question what we know, and who we know ourselves to be. And to help with this annual shifting, students from every grade, as well as Alumni, have written in their advice for students to make the most of the upcoming year. We got responses on everything from the strength in kindness, reminders that you’ve made it through the octomonster, to pushing yourself to new heights in the years to come. I truly believe there is something for everyone in this article, so without further ado, enjoy!
After just one year of high school, there was plenty of advice these ninth graders had. Ranging from clubs and activities, to meeting other staff and students, to not crowding hallways. More importantly, there’s a lot of advice these ninth graders wish they had known before entering high school, and we hope this will benefit future ninth graders!
Don’t be afraid to join any and every club that interests you, as KSS has so much to offer!!! Feel free to reach out to any staff if you have questions;they are all super friendly and supportive!
Make sure to join the clubs and activities that you feel really passionate about.
Make sure to plan mental health days, where you do some sort of activity or self care that you really enjoy.
Don't stress too much about grade 9. Grade 9 is a year to help you in grades 11 and 12, so your grades don't define you, especially in grade 9.
You'll probably be nervous, but trust me, everyone else is too. Everyone is still new and worrying about themselves, so don't think that they're judging you nor that you're the only one who feels nervous and/or lost.
Stand up for yourselves, and don't let others take advantage of you. YOU'RE THE MAIN CHARACTER, don't try to impress others, just try to impress yourself.
Set goals for yourself.
Be nice to everyone. That might seem kind of vague, but being mean doesn't make you "popular." Grade 9 is all about meeting new people, so try your best to be very nice and inclusive, and try to get to know each other.
You got this grade nines!
Don't crowd the hallways. Think before you act, it could really hurt people.
Get used to those online platforms.
Compare your schedules with people you meet. If you have multiple classes with a person try to get to know them better.
This year's grade tens sure made their words count for something.
It’s only embarrassing if you let it be.
The right friends make all the difference: they'll make you feel safe, accepted, and proud to be you. Don't settle for friends who don't deserve you.
You can learn something from every class you take. Even if you didn't plan on taking the course, you should still try to find the takeaway. Even if it's just that you can withstand an unenjoyable course.
With the start of a new school year comes many new possibilities and a big change in pace, especially when it comes to Grade 11. Many students stressed the importance of self care in their advice, while others encouraged students to see the new school year as an opportunity to spread their wings socially and academically. All in all, the advice provided by this year’s Grade 11s is definitely worth taking into consideration:
Don’t be afraid to make connections with staff and students- say hi to people you don’t know super well, spark up a conversation with a classmate, and know that there is a whole community to support you at KSS.
If you’re starting IB (diploma or certificates), welcome! Don’t stress about it; the teachers are amazing, and you will know what all the acronyms mean in no time :) After octomesters, you can do anything!
Try as many things as you can. You’ll never know what you fall in love with. As well, clubs can be good for applying for scholarships, university applications and they help you to meet people and become better friends with people.
Hello future grade 11s! Remember to take care of yourselves! Eat your meals, get enough sleep, and get some exercise when you can. Make sure to take care of your mental health as well. Grade 11 can be a tough year, but you’ll get through it!
Grade 11 is a hard time but it is essential to your growth as an individual, both academically and socially. Academically, you will have more exams and more workload from your classes so try to reach out to your teachers and classmates if you don't understand material. Even though most people say otherwise, grade 11 is important for university so grades do matter. Although, try to keep in mind that grade 11 is not the year for you to burn out- leave that for grade 12. Grade 11 means that you are almost close to finishing high school so make the most out of this year socially since grade 12 will be filled with university applications and last year stuff you have to deal with.
The most important lesson I learned from high school was to be kinder and more patient with myself. In high school, you're all of a sudden presented with the opportunity to pursue any extra curricular, academic standard, or goal you have, which is awesome! However, it can be overwhelming when you lack focus and self-awareness. You may think you know yourself and what you want, but we're all subject to change at this age. There is no rush to get to where you want to be, so definitely take your time thinking about what pursuits would /truly/ support you. Burnout is a very real thing and can be difficult to remedy if your current ambition exceeds your abilities or (physical and academic) stamina. That's not to say that you shouldn't push your limits, but you should definitely shift your focus to creating a plan that would make your progress sustainable, rather than quick. Additionally, don't be afraid to move away from things that do not support you or that hold you back, be it a club, job, etc. Keeping a manageable schedule through allowing yourself to move away from a commitment or two will pay off in the long run.
After being in high school for four years, the 12th graders gave some final wise words to reflect on their year. They stated “take advantage of EVERY moment. Regardless of how hard or easy the moment is, take the time to enjoy it! High school is over much faster than you think!”
You can do it!! You just got through a PANDEMIC, if you can push through that, you can do anything! ❤️
Find out what you’re passionate about and work hard to turn that passion into a career.
As you move on in life, high school is something you’ll always remember. The high school journey is not always that simple, nor is the pathway taken after high school. Luckily, some alumni have some advice that’ll hopefully help you, no matter what grade you’re in!
Andy Cai (2020 Graduate):
On academics: Make your grades the least impressive thing about you (and work hard for grades).
On mindset: Take time to self-reflect often. Lots of bad things happen, but you might find that there's a very lucky number of things to be grateful for. Search up "stoicism" for a powerful philosophy?
On mortality: When you're 80 years old, will you regret not having more money, prestige, or influence? What about spending time with loved ones? Stressing over -very particular- social interactions? Selflessness and relationships last; prioritize them when looking at the big picture.
On self-care: With reflection comes power. Observe what makes you happy and follow through with it. Burnout isn't a result of doing too many things, but rather a result of not doing enough things that matter.
Criswyn Paul (2019 Graduate)
Start looking at post secondary options in grade 11! Grade 12 is already busy on its own, so figuring out everything is very stressful. Whether it be talking to student services or going to university info sessions, take the time to learn more about the pathways you want to pursue.
Lily Liu (2019 Graduate)
Don’t let your high school grades define you, how smart you are or what you’re capable of achieving - there is so much room for growth as we mature and learn more about ourselves/passions. Sometimes it might take you time to figure out your own path in comparison to someone else, and that’s okay!
(Anonymous) Ignore what your peers say about post-secondary. Consult your parents/guardians, older friends/siblings/mentors, and teachers/guidance counselors. The second one of them tells you what you "ought" to do, stop listening as they are simply projecting an expectation onto you. It's the beginning of your life and your adult life will be on your terms. Don't let anyone sway what your heart and your mind tell you. Pursue joy and peace in your life and the rest will turn out.
Maddy Standage
Be yourself and do what you love. Don't let friends, boyfriends/girlfriends and social circles get in the way of doing the things that make you happy. It may sound cliché, but you only do high school once (bless - as you should). You aren’t always going to be friends with the most compatible people in high school, and those friendships may not last, so they should not stop you from doing what you want to pursue and making the most of your time there.
Alex Chan
Don't be afraid to try new things! Get involved in the school community and join a new club.
(Anonymous) I think one of the most useful things you can develop in your high school years revolves around your study practices. School doesn’t often teach you how to study, just that you need to study, so a lot of times students might be using a study method that doesn’t fit their learning style. Reading a textbook, highlighting and taking notes on everything in there may work for some, but could be overly time-consuming and exhausting for others. It’s also fair to note that not all subjects benefit from the same exact study strategy since some may require more memorization while some may require more context-based proof solving, etc. High school is the perfect time to try out different study, note taking and textbook reading methods to find what works best for your learning style and is most time efficient for you — and your future self will definitely thank you for it!
Conclusion:
From club competitions to learning how to drive, the journey of high school is marked with many new experiences that can be hard to navigate on your own. If you’re ever curious, confused, or in need of some advice, you can rest assured that any student, staff member or alumni would be more than willing to lend a helping hand! We hope that you found the advice within this article insightful and are able to take it forward to make your upcoming year of highschool as fun, memorable and enriching as possible. Have an amazing and restful summer, KSS Bears. :) <3
Love the amazing advice from the alumni! Really inspiring.