Harmonia – Goddess of Balance

As I mentioned in the first post, I wasn’t sure what high school would be like, stressful or fun. After my first week, I can definitely tell you it is a mix of both. This week, I got my first taste of high school. To sum it up, it was a lot different from middle school. There were more people, more classes, and definitely more responsibilities. 

From the first day, it was clear that high school expects you to be far more responsible and independent. The teachers also made it clear that they will not give you as much leeway as they did in middle school. I was prepared for this, but I did not expect them to be so strict about it. 

In the coming months, I expect there to be a lot more pressure and expectations put on everyone’s shoulders. I can already see that some of my friends think they need to be perfect to survive. The quietest kids in class are raising their hands and answering questions, just to get that one participation point and get in the teacher’s good books. In my opinion, it is a bit weird and off-putting how everyone is so eager and overzealous all of a sudden. Even though I do think that it is important to be on top of your game, I don’t believe you have to be the teacher’s pet. 

I learned that clear communication is essential, especially when it comes to being respectful of others’ feelings. When I joined the water polo team on my first day of school, I knew my schedule wouldn’t allow it, but I went ahead anyway. After a few exhausting practices, I realized I needed to step back. I decided to email the coach to explain that I needed to focus on my commitments without sounding rude or like I was quitting. It took me 30 minutes to craft the perfect message. The coach suggested I try for another week, but I had already made my decision. Saying no kindly became a challenge, but I knew it was the right choice for me.

And while there’s definitely a lot of pressure, there are fun and exciting parts too. One of my favorite moments this week was getting to know my teachers and seeing how each of them runs their class. Everyone has such different personalities and teaching styles, which makes the whole experience feel new and unpredictable in a good way.

Overall, my first week was full of challenges and discoveries. I only got lost twice on the campus 😂. I got to meet a lot of new people and reconnect with my friends. If my first week is anything like the rest of the school year, I know there will be a lot of ups and downs, but they will be full of learning and new experiences. 

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