By Grace Corbett ‘28
Report cards are out! With midterms finally over, it marks the start of a new semester. The newest freshman class has officially completed their first two out of sixteen quarters of high school.
But have the new BHS students been handling the transition? Some ninth graders share their reflections below, and offer advice to close out their first semester. It has been a lot to adjust to the new school, teachers, and schedules, but many have enjoyed the process. They look forward to future experiences and thriving as the BHS Class of 2028.
Finn Koehler-Ovitt (‘28) exclaims, “Overall, I’d say my first semester of high school went well. I’m still in the process of figuring out what study habits work best for me. I think we’re all still learning what to expect from high school. Success looks different for everybody. My advice would be to not let fear get in the way of trying new things.”
Similarly, some pupils share that their high school journey has been more preferable than that of previous schools. Schedules allow for more freedom and possibilities, despite more challenging classes and heavier workload. Students are always balancing school, homework, social life, tests, and extracurricular activities. It is important to stay on top of work and be productive with the time given.
Brooklyn Schulz (‘28) agrees, “My semester was stressful but I got through it. In the future I suggest staying organized to avoid losing track and drowning in homework. It’s a lot more work than middle school. I enjoy the layout of the schedule and independence you get in high school. There are lots of new opportunities to meet new people as well.”
On another note, this generation also has overcome many learning challenges. As tiny fourth and fifth graders, they struggled past a worldwide pandemic in 2020. They missed out on a normal graduation from elementary school, and had a unique first year of middle school.
That would seem wild enough, but they are now recovering from the Beverly Teacher Strike, which took place this past fall. They have endured Saturday school, lost their February vacation, and had midterm dates pushed back. Scholars are doing their best to remain on track despite challenges.
Camille Ettwiller-Runz (‘28) adds, “My first semester was an interesting experience. Although the teacher strike was a setback, I feel like I still gained a lot of knowledge. Most of my classmates were fantastic, and overall, the learning environment was positive. For future freshmen I would recommend doing their homework the day they get it, or as soon as possible. Homework quickly piles up and it is important to do it as soon as possible to not get overwhelmed.”
It has been a common theme throughout the freshman class to feel overwhelmed. They have been working their way around adversity, striving to emerge resilient. This also applies to the recent set of midterms Beverly High hurdled. Freshmen lacked the knowledge of what to expect, and there were mixed reactions from report cards and returned grades.
Ettwiller-Runz (‘28) continues, “Midterms turned out to be easier than I had anticipated, even though the teachers had warned they would be challenging and carried much weight in the final grade. I appreciated this, because it pushed me to study more, which I believe helped me get better grades.”
Beverly freshmen this year have come a long way, and while classes may be hard to juggle, it is important to live in the moment. This is the time for self-discovery and exploring new areas of interest. It may be easy to stress about the future, including college and careers. It may seem right around the corner, but this is the time to enjoy school and learn to thrive. We have survived the first semester of high school, the first set of midterms, and so many new experiences, whether exciting or frightening. There is plenty to accomplish during our time at BHS, accompanied with mistakes that build strength allowing us to arise resilient.
Be First to Comment