Spring brings transitions everywhere

Juniors and seniors are looking ahead, while middle schoolers are anticipating freshman year

KYA MERRIMAN Staff Reporter

Now that second semester is almost halfway done, eighth graders are starting to think about life at the high school. The following is a list of advice about transitioning to the high school.

Do not take yourself so seriously

Try to have some fun, it is important to make memories in high school. These four years give endless opportunities to make memories to last a lifetime. It may be cheesy to think about now, but looking back in the future, people will be thankful they had fun. People who take life too seriously will miss out on life-changing memories and lessons. Get outside every once in a while. Going to athletics and school events can be great catalysts for making friends and new connections. Make the time spent at school a little more enjoyable.

Don't overwork yourself

When something is assigned, do everything possible to finish it in class. The less school work that has to be done outside of school, the more free time will be available. Try not to procrastinate. Procrastination is usually not going to be beneficial in the grand scheme of things. Leaving loads of work until the last minute will only cause problems in the future! Protect future well-being by doing school work when it’s assigned or as soon as possible. People who pace themselves are less likely to feel overworked and overwhelmed.

Don’t overthink this entire process

Things will get in the way; it’s inevitable. This might be anything from challenging assignments to toxic relationships. Life happens, but in order to persevere and do what is best, it is important

• "Being responsible”

• “Waking up a bit later and seeing familiar faces from Ritenour Middle”

• “I am looking forward to the experience but also getting it over with.”

• “Fun activities”

• “Prom, homecoming, and graduation.”

• “Being more independent.”

• “The support they have there.”

• “Orchestra.”

• “The soccer team.”

• “To get taller.”

• “Freedom.”

• “The entire experience. Bigger school, more people, new learning, opportunities, sports games, etc.” to push through and not get caught in a mental funk. Everyone is going through similar situations. Overthinking struggles and issues that may occur can hold people back. Trust the process.

Work hard for what you want

Nothing is going to come easy. To be successful, whatever that looks like individually, it will require hard work. Putting in the effort is tough sometimes, but it will pay off. There are things that can be done to help create success. Taking schooling seriously now may be the connection to making future paychecks and a dream career. Seize the day now, because it may be harder in the future. It’s never too late to make steps in the right direction.

Stick with the right crowd

Don’t get involved with people who are not going to push you to be the best version of yourself. The people that students get involved with should not jeopardize their future. Those people should not be forcing impressionable young minds into making questionable life decisions. Instead, choose people who are optimistic and positive, people who will are uplifting, and people who celebrate successes. High school is a time when personalities are shaped and friend groups have a large influence on that.

Prioritize your mental health

There won’t always be someone to help in times of need, so high school students have to watch out for themselves. Students who are always going and going without a break might find that their body and mind will begin to wear. In cases like that, try taking an hour or two during the week to do something that brings individual joy, like gaming or hanging out or being creative. High school can be extremely overwhelming and stressful, so ensuring that mental health is taken care of will help to prevent unnecessary stress and keep the mind healthy. The human brain makes very important decisions and actions on a daily basis and without a healthy and relaxed mind, it may struggle to make these decisions.

Ask for help when you need it

No one is going to judge people for needing help. It is better to speak up and self-advocate than to suffer alone. The point of school is to challenge students so they can learn new skills and information. Sometimes these challenges may seem daunting and scary to face alone, so it would be beneficial to ask for help from a peer or adult. There is no shame in this. That is what teachers are there for, to help students learn and face challenges headon. Suffering in silence never helps the situation. The problem doesn’t get solved and it can become more stressful or frustrating. These problems can be school related and even socio-emotional based. Either way there are resources within the school and community that can help. Try seeing a teacher or guidance counselor when in the face of a challenge. Don’t be scared to ask for help.

Be involved but not too involved

Being involved in sports and extracurriculars can enrich the mind and provide a unique experience for high school. It can also beef up college applications and even supply leeway for scholarships. However, if too many extracurriculars and activities take away any free time, they can lead to stress. Ensure that there is enough time to focus on school work and mental and physical health. Time for personal care and relaxation is very important in these detrimental years and development. Without this relaxation time, it could lead to a loss of motivation. Mental health and physical health is ultimately more important than that extracurricular activity, no matter how good it looks on a college application.

Reggie Verhoffexhilirating

Brandon Ochoaexcited

Michaela Heltonnervous

Transitioning into senior year Pathways

Jada Bradley - “I am planning on applying to colleges. In state, I’ve been considering Truman, UMSL, Lindenwood and a couple more but I’ve also been looking for better opportunities in other states as well. “

Preparation

Janice Leonardnervous

Naya Fordindifferent

Egypt Draperdetermined

Class of 2025

How does transition make you feel?

Jada Bradleybittersweet

Ellie Weisslermind-boggled

Cailan Wooteneager

Ava Verhoffoverwhelmed

Class of 2024

Jayden Bockexcited

Brooke Carlileoverstimulated

Aundre'A Berrybittersweet

Kyle Williamshopeful

Class of 2023

Seniors look ahead to the future Pathways

Aundre’A Berry - “My plans after high school are to attend a 4-year university, as a Business major, and possibly continue dancing. I also plan to get my esthetician license through a small program.”

Kyle Williams - “I plan to go to school for education and come back to teach for a while before going back to school to get higher degrees and certificates.”

Brooke Carlile - “I want to go to medical school.”

Preparation for the "real world"

Brooke Carlile - “I have a job, I pay bills to an extent, and I've taken classes about how to manage finances.”

Kyle Williams - "I've done a lot of research on resources and opportunities to make me the most successful. I believe that I can do whatever I put my mind too and I put in the work to get there."

Jayden Bock - “For my future, I have not only prepared myself academically, but mentally. I know throughout these four years we have been driven by our academics to be prepared for futures, but many of us seem to lack the mental capability. I think that I have trained myself to know that even though I am entering an unfamiliar place, I am not alone. I am about to enter a world where there are so many people that will be around me that have the same common interests as me and will be just as optimistic as I am. As long as I focus on my mental health and keep that on track while being away from home I think I will be great. I have so many tools that I have been given these past years that I am ready to take on the world.”

Next Steps

Aundre’A Berry - “I am feeling mixed emotions about taking the next step towards my future. I’m excited because I’m ready to see all of my hard work pay off, but I’m nervous because I’m frightened of failure and once you’re in adulthood, there’s no going back.”

Jayden Bock - “I am very excited for the next steps in my future. I can't wait to see what is in store! Although, I am a wee bit nervous to step out into adulthood.”

Cailan Wooten - “As someone who naturally plans and thinks ahead, I think I've been preparing for my senior year since middle school. This year in particular though, I've been focusing on academic rigor and choosing what colleges I'd be interested in attending. Junior year has probably been the most academically challenging year of my school career as I'm taking all advanced classes, including 5 APs, but I think it'll be worth it.”

Jada Bradley - “I’ve started getting ready to take ACT’s and looking at college tours I can take this summer. It's stressful really, there are so many options and different choices to make to decide what I want to do with my life.”

Looking forward

Jada Bradley - “I’m definitely looking forward to senior crowning and the senior sunrise, but overall I’m just excited for the entire experience of being a senior.”

Cailan Wooten - “I am interested in seeing how the activities I'm already in further develop next year. Especially seeing how the orchestra changes and develops with the introduction of some of the current freshmen/sophomores. Plus, it will be my first year without any of the original chamber orchestra members I was with in my sophomore year, so I'll be getting outside of my comfort zone a little bit with it, which I don't mind.”

Ava Verhoff - “I’m looking forward to all the times seniors get free food or get to get out of class.”

Next Steps

Ava Verhoff - “I'm feeling kind of confused and scared, but also pressured about making sure I have an idea of what I want and I need to take care of steps to get there immediately.”

Overcoming struggles and advice from upperclassmen

Janice Leonard - “I’d say I’ve gotten better at allowing me to be myself. Not caring about what others think as much.”

Naya Ford - “I used to be bad at math, then I started using my own tactics to learn things. The structure of the classroom wasn’t working with my brain, so I made my own system. Now, I’m really good at it.”

Aundre’A Berry - “A struggle that I'm struggling to overcome as I'm transitioning into college and further careers is me limiting my opportunities due to fear of failure or not being capable.”

Work for what you actually want. Don’t let someone talk down on you if you don’t think college or the military is the best fit for you.

I would say try not to take yourself too seriously. You're still a teenager, and the things you want will probably change over time.

Everything is going to be okay, just stay on top of your work and you’ll make it.

Don't spend all your time worrying about the right college, the right program, or the right grade. They don't matter more than your wellbeing or the memories you make during your teenage years.

Keep yourself motivated and don’t procrastinate about work because it will quickly build up.

Be open minded! Sometimes you might close off ideas that you aren’t used to or ideas that aren’t appealing but you’d be surprised when you just give it a chance.

NEW RULES- Continued from page 1 the decision to implement these new safety protocols.

“Part of the decision was prompted by survey data that more than 50% of staff members and students indicated that they did not feel safe on campus. So because of that, we were looking at practices we already have in place. There are organizations that specifically look at school safety and security, and many of them are multi-layered approaches to creating a safe school environment and we wanted to make sure we had those things in place,” Haywood said.

Ritenour has had several instances in the past year and a half that have brought up the question of safety to many people, causing a demand for appeasement of extremely concerned parents and students, however, the response to these new requirements are varied.

Since the official announcement, students have adjusted well to the new protocols. Most students have had no problem following them especially in order to avoid the consequences that come from breaking them.

Numerous students have expressed their dismay at some of these consequences that come from breaking the rules. During arrival time, if students enter the building without their school identification they are immediately sent to in school suspension where they will wait for a temporary ID to be issued. After so many times coming in without an ID, students will be required to pay for a new ID card.

During arrival, if students are not using the required clear or mesh backpack, the one they are currently using will be confiscated along with all of their belongings and won't be returned till the end of the school day. Many students and even some staff members have said this is problematic.

“I feel like we're veering away from education and focusing more on safety,” sophomore Kamryn Hufstedler said. “While I understand that by trying to keep weapons out of students' hands we gain an education as well, I should not have to keep going back and forth to the eleventh grade office to retrieve my belongings, because I'm not allowed to have my bookbag.”

While the school provided clear backpacks to all students who wanted them, some have already found that they are in need of a new one.

“I tried to use the clear backpack provided and it broke, I was told that they couldn't give me another. What if I wasn't able to afford to buy my own?” junior Angel Allen said.

Beyond just the consequences given to students for not following new guidelines, some students have expressed how they believe that this will not help the school in the future.

“Overall, I think the rules are well intentioned, but misguided. I think that they don't really address the root problems of why these things are happening in our school and community and a lot of it is the fact that they can't really do much outside of school as far as laws and policies, so they have focus more on the inside of the school with deterrents like clear backpacks and metal