NEW SCHOOL JITTERS

Picture yourself in a strange new maze of buildings, full of strangers. You have less than seven minutes to find your destination and you feel sick in the pit of your stomach because you’re lost and wish you could be anywhere else on earth than this new place. Does this sound familiar? It should. Everyone has a first day at a new school. The first day may be terrifying, but after a short time, it all becomes easy. To help students new to Edgewood have an easy transition, Edgewood students who were seventh graders last year, are going to share their own experiences of transitioning from their old school to Edgewood, lending their advice, remembering what they were looking forward to when coming to this school, and more.

As if starting a new school wasn’t difficult enough, switching schools during the pandemic is especially challenging. There are new rules and protocols in place at the school that you have never been to before, in addition to the challenges of making new friends.

“It was exciting to be in a new environment, but it’s also very nerve-wracking,” said Victoria Tonhauser, 8.

It is not easy changing schools, from being in elementary school, with the teachers that you have known for a long time and hanging out with your old friends, to meeting your new classmates and teachers. It is a new chapter of your life.

“I was just so excited to be in middle school because it was just so different from elementary school,” said Maria Thering, 8. “Even though changing classes was hard, it was a nice change of pace. I was also excited to meet new people and see my old friends.”

There are several new things to get used to, and challenges are bound to appear. One of the biggest challenges for new students is adjusting to the new learning environment. There is also a shift of how classes are held, whether it’s the number of classes, the academic expectations, and the number of teachers they may have.

"Changing classes and having 7 teachers was definitely the biggest change,” said Thering. “But some of the other differences are that the teachers expect more of you, and because the teachers have like 100 students, you often have to remind them of stuff. Another difference is that because we’re in middle school, we kind of have more freedom. I guess what I'm trying to say is there's not always a teacher over your shoulder, and you don't have to walk in a straight line.”

One aspect of being an Edgewood student that is new for incoming students is called Indian time. It is a full hour for whatever you need to do, whether it’s eating lunch, catching up on assignments, taking tests, or going to clubs.

Indian Time was a pleasant surprise to Jamaris White, 8, who said, “I was surprised about lunch hour; that was pretty fun.”

Changing schools is a part of our school experience. No matter how difficult it may seem, with time, you will find that you are making new friends, keeping up with seven classes, and balancing your homework and social time. And to make your school year a little easier, remember that there's more to life than school.

“Pace yourself! Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, because then you won’t want to do anything at all,” said Tonhauser. “ Remember, school is only a part of your life, so don’t stress more than you have to.”

Remember, everything new takes time to get used to. Now matter how challenging it may seem at first, it will get easier as time goes on. Moving schools is difficult but even harder during a pandemic, just know that many other students are nervous as well. This is all just a part of progressing in life.