Transitioning from middle school to high school can take a toll on many students. They are not used to having a tremendous amount of freedom. Stu- dents are overwhelmed by having to keep up with assignments and deadlines without having the constant reminders from the teacher. They are accustomed to being told exactly what to do and when to do it. However, in high school teachers expect you to keep up with the work, especially if you are absent.

Although it can seem intimidating, there are many resources at your disposal to aid in the transition. If you are struggling to pass a particular class you can always attend tutorials. Don’t automatically assume that your teachers are out to get you and don’t want you to succeed. In reality it is the complete opposite they are willing to help you all you have to do is ask.

Just take it from a current junior, Adriana Alvarez.“I struggled with keeping up with the work and learning,” said Alvarez. After attending tutorials she realized that “paying close attention…helped [her] understand the subject better without the need to come to tutorials”. When she needed help her teachers were there for her. For the most part, the responsibility falls on the student but it doesn’t mean that there’s no one there to help along the way. It is different from middle school be- cause you must take the initiative. The resources are there but they won’t come to you. You will have to go to them.

Another major issue that often arises when entering high school is learning to balance your school life from your personal life. You get caught up in the excitement of all the available extracurricular activities and forget that each extra curricular activity involves a multitude of responsibilities. Bisett Chay-Pac understands this well because she personally experienced this.

“When I transitioned from middle school to high school I felt the difficulty of balancing school work with sports and a job,” said Chay-Pac. “Juggling all things at once made me feel as if I didn’t have a real grip on anything. In middle school it was easier be- cause we didn’t have jobs and sports weren’t as competitive or rigorous. But in high school, it is a whole different scene, sports consume a lot of your time, extra curricular activities are hard to keep up with but are necessary for a good college application, and jobs also become demanding,”

Chay-Pac quickly came to the realization that not she couldn’t possibly do everything. She had to find balance between her personal and school life. On top of sports, she also had to make time to do homework and relax.

For this very reason, she advises other high school students who are currently “struggling with balancing different activities, regardless of how much planning and organizing you’re doing, narrow down…You can’t do everything you want to do just focus on what you’re really passionate about.”

In high school you have to learn to manage your time wisely, balance both your personal and school life, and take advantage of the resources available to you. Transitioning from middle school to high school can be difficult but there are always resources available to aid you in the process. Don’t ever think that you are alone in this process and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.