Advice for 8th Graders

As we all know, the new school year just started, and things can be a little difficult for the new eighth graders. So, to all the eighth graders at Kenmore West, I’m here to answer all the questions you may have! 

Here’s some basic advice to keep in mind before I answer any questions: 

• Your time at Kenmore West will be easy if you use your study halls wisely and any after-school time to get ahead on your homework and get help from teachers!

• Be respectful to those around you, especially administrators and teachers.

• Being in the hallway doesn’t mean it’s YOUR space. You’re at school, not home. We all have to share this space, and you might hate it, but nobody wants to be late to class all because you’re standing around chatting with your friends.

• Keep in mind that not everyone wants to hear or see anything that’s private information. That’s YOUR personal business, so keep it that way.

My name is Meredith, and I’m now a senior at Kenmore West, so if any eighth graders have questions, I’m here to answer them!

Question: How can I succeed academically? 

Answer: You can succeed academically by turning all your work in on time, not skipping class, and overall, by paying attention. Check your grades and see what you’re missing. 

Question: How do I check for missing assignments?

Answer: Infinite Campus and Canvas are going to be your best friends. Any missing assignments and your grades will all be on Infinite Campus. Try to check your Infinite Campus and Canvas daily just to stay on track with grades or anything you have missed. 

Question: How can I successfully study?

Answer: Studying successfully all starts with your own strategies. I personally like to do flashcards. See what type of learner you are. Use tips from your own style of learning; whether you learn visually or not, do your studying in a way that you understand. Besides how you study, spend time reviewing the material so you have it memorized. Study in a way that works best for you.

Question: Is it embarrassing if I don’t know where my locker is?

Answer: No, it’s not embarrassing at all! Considering it’s your first year here, you won’t immediately know in the snap of a finger where you are going just yet. Eventually, you’ll remember it by heart. I was in eighth grade once and didn’t even remember where my locker was. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you aren’t sure of where to go!

Question: Do I need to know what I want to do right after high school?

Answer: No, absolutely not. You’re still young, and you don’t have to know what you want to do with your life yet. You can have an idea, but that doesn’t mean you will stick with what your plan originally was after high school. For example, you might think about wanting to be a doctor in eighth grade. It doesn’t necessarily mean you will stick with that career forever. You don’t have to worry about it yet.

Question: Who should I not hang out with?

Answer: Don’t hang out with people who are going to be mean to you or make your life miserable. Peer pressure is real, and you don’t want to fall into the wrong crowd. Letting yourself make bad decisions isn’t the right choice. Make good decisions, especially knowing the choices you make will follow you in the future.

Question: Should I worry about relationships?

Answer: Considering you’re still young, dating isn’t something you should worry about. It’s normal to have crushes, but don’t try to get into relationships so fast. Instead, focus on yourself and focus on your own life. Don’t rush into relationships just because you want to be like everyone else. That is not the kind of image you want people to see. 

Question: How can I stay organized?

Answer: The one thing you SHOULDN’T do is shove all your papers in one folder! You are going to lose all your work, and you don’t want that. Make sure you have multiple folders for each class and have a homework folder as well. Put your work for each class in the correct folder since this helps you stay more organized.

Question: How do I fit in?

Answer: The urge to fit in is real. I was the same way in eighth grade. But I’m here to tell you trying to fit in isn’t worth it. Just because someone has the newest pair of shoes doesn’t mean you need to have them. You don’t need to keep up with the latest trends. At the end of the day, it’s not worth it. Be your own person. It’s exhausting to try to fit in. Forget changing your behavior or hiding how you really feel. It’s just not healthy. Fitting in doesn’t matter at all. I hate to break it to you, but nobody is going to care how you dress, and if they do, that’s a them problem, not a YOU problem.

Question: How do I get involved? 

Answer: Join clubs or sports! Whether it’s softball or soccer or even the newspaper, get involved! It’s better to be involved than to not be involved at all! Make the most of high school. Go to high school dances, go to high school sporting events, and more. You might not like it at first, but it’s a great way to meet new people and make new friends.

Question: Why am I so sad and angry?

Answer: People may say it’s your hormones, and that’s true, but it’s not always the case. You go through a lot of changes as you get older; little of it you have any control over. You will rely a lot on your emotions; some of us don’t want to show it, but crying over the smallest things is normal. It’s not always about what you’re going through; sometimes it’s social media. If it is social media, give yourself a break. Get off it for a while and take a break. But I understand what you’re going through. This is not something I would usually talk about, but I lost my dad to cancer, and it’s changed how I feel ever since. Whether you’re going through that or not, don’t be afraid to reach out! Don’t suffer in silence. People are always here to help and understand you, not judge you. 

Question: How can I remember to do my work? 

Answer: Besides the fact that life gets busy, it’s okay to not remember everything. A good way to remember things is by writing them down. I highly suggest using a planner. Using your time wisely in high school is very crucial. If you need somewhere quiet to go, the library is a great place to go! If you need to make up a test, either go to the Academic Achievement Center or see your teacher! Asking your teacher if you can stay in their room during a study hall or lunch to get help with work is great too. 

Question: What are some good classes to take? 

Answer: It usually depends on what you’re interested in! You won’t take electives in eighth grade, but when you do take electives, take fun but realistic classes. Take a class you know you’ll be good at. Don’t pick a class just because it was your “last choice.” Part of high school is that you get to pick what classes you like. Take something new! Try out what interests you most! You might end up liking it! 

Question: What do I do if I’m drifting away from my middle school friends? 

Answer: Sadly, it happens to a lot of people. It’s normal to make or lose friends. It’s a part of change, and you’ll drift apart. But you will always make new friends. It might sound cringey, but just put yourself out there and just be you! People like it when you act like yourself. 

Question: What should I do if someone is bullying me? 

Answer: Sadly, you will encounter mean people, but take the steps to understand what caused the situation. Avoid responding in a negative way, such as talking about them, as that will only make things worse. In the moment, if you feel the urge to say something mean, stop yourself. Instead, respond in a nice way and ask them what you did wrong that made them mad at you. What you can do is step away from the situation. A good amount of the time, rude people want a reaction out of you; avoid giving that person a reaction. Don’t respond, and they won’t get a reaction out of you like they wanted. 

Question: What should I not do during my first year?

Answer: As someone in her senior year, I must say there are a lot of things you should avoid. First and foremost, stay out of drama. Getting involved in drama doesn’t make you look cool; in fact, it just makes you look worse. As much as you think it’s cool to talk about others, just stay out of it. Worry about yourself and you only. Another thing you shouldn’t do is skip class. A lot of people don’t seem to care if they skip or not. This is one way you will fall behind, and you don’t want to stay in high school forever, so just go to your classes. Also, go to school too. It’s acceptable if you’re sick or have a good reason, but if you’re not going to school because you don’t feel like it, that just shows you don’t really care.

Question: How should I take care of myself? 

Answer: Shower every day no matter what. You can easily smell bad fast. Wear deodorant every morning, and always reapply. Make sure you have a kit of any essentials you may have. It gets really hot in the building during the summer and spring, so be prepared with any hygiene essentials. 

Question: How do I make new friendships? 

Answer: Making new friends can be difficult, but the best way to make new friends is by starting a conversation. I get that it can be awkward, but you can really form the best connections that way. You can talk about anything. Ask about their interests! They could be interested in the same things as you are, and even if they aren’t, this is a great way to try out what they are into! 

Question: Is it true my social life can change? 

Answer: Yes, it can. The main reason your social life can change isn’t always because of you; it’s because people can be weird. People just don't know how to put how they feel into words. Everyone has their own reason for being the way they are. Friendships are hard when they are just one-sided because you have to put all the effort in, or if we are just afraid of each other. Sometimes, people don’t want to open up to each other; maybe it’s because they think the other person won’t understand. Finding people with similar interests as yours can really help your social life. 

Finally, manage your time wisely. I remember not managing my time well, and that’s the worst mistake you can make. Don’t just focus on the present; focus on your future. Don’t be the kind of person who is constantly getting involved in drama all the time; people don’t like that. Learn to have fun and show up to events. You will go far by making the right choices.

All in all, make the most of your eighth-grade year and generally all of high school! Have fun and get involved!