A Comprehensive Guide to Ninth Grade at NHS

Homework and uneven floor numbers and waterfall schedules, oh my! There is no contesting that ninth grade at Needham High is difficult. On the first day of school, new ninth graders are confronted with a lobby full of culture shock, and down every hallway and up every staircase is a new worry for the next 180 days.

But never fear! That’s what the Hilltopper, as your friendly neighborhood group of older siblings, is here to help you with! 

First things first: Take a deep breath. Remember, with all of this new information (which, don’t worry, no one expects you to memorize after hearing once) comes a lot of new opportunities. Not just for stress and homework, but also for incredible extracurriculars and supportive communities.

And how will you find these communities? On Wednesday, October 4th, head to the NHS Cafeteria for the Needham High club fair: The Oracle! If you didn’t get a chance to attend the spring Oracle or you didn’t get to sign up for all of the clubs you wanted to, the fall Oracle is the perfect place to join some clubs (and probably get some candy thrown at you, too).

“But Emily, I’m already overwhelmed by all my schoolwork! How am I supposed to have time for clubs or sports, too?” Relatable. Honestly, it really depends on your own priorities and time management skills. However, I would say that if succeeding in your classes means you cannot be a part of any extracurricular or social activities, you might not be in the right classes. Personally, I find that being a part of enjoyable activities before and after school provides me with a healthy mental break and a safe space. Those mental breaks help me complete my homework in a more efficient manner, despite having less time, but I also know that if I really need to, I can press pause on attending a club in order to prioritize my schoolwork. 

“But Emily, there are too many clubs I want to join! How do I choose which ones to sign up for?” Easy! You don’t. Put your name on any club email list that interests you and use the fall as a “shopping” period for clubs. Try going to a few and see what you like and what you don’t. The easiest way to narrow down what you’re interested in is to experience as much as possible. When you find yourself looking forward to the day one club is on and dreading another, notice it and commit to the club that makes you excited while removing yourself from the one you don’t enjoy.

So go to the Oracle, enjoy your candy, and most importantly, join some clubs! You won’t regret it.

“Ugh, okay Emily. I’ll go to the Oracle. But that doesn’t mean I’m not stressed about my homework. It’s a LOT and my classes are HARD!” Okay, calm down. One thing at a time. (Both for questions and for schoolwork.) Yes, high school classes are a lot harder than middle school classes. But your teachers know this and are also extremely prepared to support you however you need. One of the most helpful resources at Needham High is X Block. Not only is it a 30 minute study opportunity every day except Friday, but it’s also a great way to get one-on-one help.

“Fine, but motivating myself to study is such a struggle. How can I stay motivated?” Wow, you sure have a lot of questions. As my good friend Alana Zaiger advises, “I like to make a lasagna before I study. It takes two hours to cook, so I know I’ll dedicate two hours to studying and then I will get to eat it! The lasagna encourages good time management because as it is cooking, I already know what I need to get done.” On a more serious note, it is important to find which studying methods work for you, whether that means hiding your phone, using a reward system, or starting a Pomodoro timer. And if you get distracted easily, I recommend finding a place to study outside of your bedroom. The school and public libraries are super helpful for that reason, but I also encourage you to find a study space in your house besides your room, such as your basement.

Ninth grade is definitely a learning curve, but don’t worry. Everyone else is learning right alongside you and there are plenty of teachers and upperclassmen who can help you. No matter what, you got this! NHS believes in you.