As the second semester approaches, things are starting to sink in for junior high students. All of your teachers have told you the horror stories of senior high, and you’re beginning to wonder what might happen in the future. As a previous junior high student myself, I can assure you that it isn’t as bad as your teachers make it seem.

The first thing I thought about was the second, completely new set of classes everyone gets as the second semester begins. After going through that the first time, I can say that it is not as horrible as it seems. It almost feels like the beginning of a new school year, where you don’t know about any of the classes you’re going to take, but you soon get adjusted to them. It allows for a fresh start if you weren’t doing so hot in your classes before. And you also get another chance to have your best friends in your classes. 

It is easy to say that the effort you need to get good grades in senior high is far greater than the effort you need for junior high. There will be assignments that you think you did outstandingly on, but in reality, you didn’t do great on, and that’s okay. Everyone goes through this same experience, whether it’s on a test or a meaningless assignment that’s worth ten points. I promise you it is not the end of the world. It may hurt at first, but what’s done is done, and you can’t do anything to change that. So, try not to worry about a bad grade too much. It happens to the best of us, and there will be plenty of opportunities to redeem yourself.

You go through your entire elementary school and junior high career taking PSSAs that don’t affect anything except for what classes you go into. Every year, it was a one-and-done scenario that nobody took seriously. Take Keystones seriously. Passing the Keystones is required to graduate from high school. If you don’t pass them, then you will have to retake them. Eventually, if you fail them so many times, you will get the benefit of the doubt and will be given the chance to do the summer project. However, as far as I know, it isn’t pleasant, and it takes valuable time out of your summer.

So, to all the young eighth graders who are coming into high school next year, don’t stress too much. As much as you heard about high school being so much different than what you’re used to, whoever told you that is correct, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It is okay to feel worried or scared about what high school may bring, but just remember that there are billions of people before you who have done this, and you can do this too.