Additional Resources
Explore!
In this section of additional resources, there are many subtabs that will give you information regarding Contact Us & FAQ, Parent/Family Resources, Inclusive Services/ESL/GT at PHS and our wonderful Counseling, College and Career Center (All of them have been linked above for easy access)! Be sure to also look at the information below!
Advice from Graduating Seniors
-Esperanza
-Phillip
-Kaitlin
-Bryce
-Jessica
-Demitrius
-Jason
-Lenore
Advice from the Class of 2026
-Estrella
-Miles
-Aubrey
-Mariah
-Johnnie
-Marlee
-Ayden
-Mikey
Fifteen Things Every 9th Grade Student Should Know
(As written by the 2023-2024 Link Crew Student and Faculty Staff)- Start with the right mindset
High school is a lot different from middle school. Not only will you enter into a new environment, but you will also meet new teachers, new grade systems, and new people. Be positive, stay organized, and always be open to new changes and opportunities.
2. Stay on Top of your School Work from the Very Beginning
Don't play around with your studies in your 9th grade year. Start building a solid GPA from the start. With the right study tips, resilience and motivation, you will have no problem maintaining your grades throughout your first year at Palmer High School!
Don't worry about what grades your friends or anyone else are making. People may try to trick you into believing that you have time and that you should just focus on “having fun,” but do not let them fool you! Your grade in your 9th grade year matters a lot.
3. Join a Club/Extracurricular Activity
School isn't just about books and academics alone. Getting involved in sports, clubs, and extracurriculars are amazing ways to meet new people and build lasting relationships. The good thing about Palmer High School is that there are so many different clubs, organizations, sports and societies to get involved with! So, join a club, maybe even two! Remember though, don't take on more than you can handle.
4. Attend School Social Events!
You don't have to be the most extroverted person on the face of the planet to enjoy your time at Palmer High School! You can be socially active and involved in the school culture by attending events like Homecoming, pep rallies, inter-school games, school dances, etc. All these social events are so important!
5. Develop Good Life Skills
Build good habits and life skills that'll help you become a better human. Such skills include good communication, emotional skills, decision-making skills, critical and creative thinking, and listening skills.
Learn how to effectively communicate with other people through expressing yourself clearly and boldly. Become a good listener that can effectively comprehend other people's views without being judgmental. Develop emotional intelligence by learning how to identify and understand your emotions so that you learn to deal with them confidently.
6. Remember to Practice Self-Care
Remember to take a break from all the stress of high school. Don't neglect your health and mental well-being. Always make time to do some self-care outside of school, whether it be through beauty treatments, watching your favorite movies, journaling or just relaxing. You are a high schooler, not a robot.
7. Don’t be afraid to talk to new people, including teachers.
School orientations are a good time to socialize with your peers. If you are lucky enough to see a few familiar faces from middle school, feel free to catch up with them, but also try chatting with your new classmates so you can have some buddies in your classes before the first day of school!
8. Ask for Help!
Navigating high school and teenaged life in general can be highly confusing, and oftentimes frustrating. Just remember that you are not alone in this. Don't be afraid to ask for help. No matter how frivolous a question may seem, ask it anyways! If you're in need of assistance, your high school counselors, teachers, and administrators are great people to get guidance from.
9. Learn to Embrace Challenges Rather than Avoid them.
Choose to see challenges as fun opportunities to learn. Even if you can’t overcome the challenge, you would have still grown as a person. It’s tempting to take shortcuts, but resist the urge to do so. The more shortcuts you take, the less you’ll learn and the less you’ll grow as a person. Before you know it, high school's over, and you can't go back. There are no do-overs.
Most students aren’t willing to do the extra assignment, proofread the essay one more time, put their phone away when it’s time to focus, or delete the distracting apps on their phone. Be the student who is willing to do those things – and more. If you adopt this mindset in life, you’re almost guaranteed to become successful.
10. Spend Time with People who have the Same (or similar) Values and Goals as You.
All of us are influenced greatly by the people we surround ourselves with. Choose to surround yourself with people who will inspire you to become a better person and student. Popularity is overrated. Responsibility, kindness, courage and generosity aren’t – so focus on these instead. As a student, you make hundreds of choices every day: what to eat, how to spend your money, who to talk to, what clothes to wear, how hard to work, etc. Every decision you make shapes your character and future, don't take it lightly.
11. You’re Never too Young to Make an Impact.
No matter how old you are, or where you come from, believe you can make an impact. Start small and follow you passions.
12. Focus on Progress, not Perfection
There is no such thing as a perfect student. After all, we’re flawed human beings. If you aim to achieve perfection, you’ll be disappointed, and you may lose motivation. On the other hand, if you focus on progress, you’ll realize that getting better is its own reward. This is the key to being an effective, fulfilled student.
13. Pay Attention in Class
If you do this, you won’t need to spend so much time studying because you would have already understood most of the concepts taught in class. If you have trouble paying attention, we recommend that you improve your focus gradually. That text, phone call, snap chat, or new tik tok can wait!
14. Be Present and Curious
Being a student, we can sometimes spend far too much time thinking about past mistakes or worrying about the future. As a result, not a lot of time is living in the present or appreciating the small things, being 100% focused, seeing the beauty in what is being taught, and cherishing relationships is what it is all about. So wherever you are, be present.
Becoming a curious student means asking questions and diving deep into your passions. Not only may this help make school more enjoyable, but also life in general! There’s so much beauty in the world around us. Start trying to discover it!
15. Celebrate the Success of Yourself and Others
Your life as a student may feel like a competition, but it isn’t. Celebrate the accomplishments and successes of your peers, and yourself. Don’t let jealousy take over.