I started my high school education at Southwest Dekalb, so I didn’t have a freshman year here at Cedar Shoals. Starting freshmen year is really no different at any other school because it’s really up to you whether or not you end it on good terms. Many people, from my point of view, start off their high school year with good intentions. Ninety-percent of the people that start high school make their grade, but carrying that same state of mind throughout the four years of high school usually fails, which is my story.
The beginning of my high school quest was filled with success. I was on top of my game, making good grades, involved in extra-curricular activities, and everything. I even started off my sophomore year on good terms, well at least the first half anyway. The second semester was when I became blind-folded and not focused on my future. I’m not going to blame it on me moving from Atlanta, but I’m going to blame myself for not taking the initiative to continue the trend I was well known for.
To start it off, I didn’t even start the second semester of my sophomore year until a month or two after it had started. And to make things worse, I put my books down and picked up fashion. I spent all my time trying to look good instead of learning something that is going to last. Truthfully, I don’t believe that one year is more important than another. Of course, teachers and administrators are going to make your freshmen year look like it’s more important than any other year mainly because they want you all to start off good, but honestly every year is evenly as important. I even entered my junior year with the same state of mind, causing me to fail my algebra II and French classes. If I could start over and do it all over again, I would. Don’t be like me, don’t be one of the people saying I should’ve, would’ve, could’ve, but didn’t. Make that difference now. Be someone who has no regrets about their high school life.
Upon concluding my junior year, my failure reached its peak. I was given way more freedom than what I was use to. I started going out; GIRLS. I even had over thirty absences from school. Now that I look back, it didn’t take anybody’s help to change me. I mean counselors are useful but the way I figured it was that I made the failure, so it was up to me to fix it, which is what I did.
No matter what I say it’s up to you to make that difference. Being able to carry that “Imma be the best” mentality throughout all four grades of high school separates the greatest from the great. Somebody once told me “Don’t be scared to be smart” and I agree.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Relationships and Learning by Shamonica Pittard
Ninth grade for me was fun yet crazy. I experienced so many different things to the point where I thought I died, came back alive, and lived again. I met many different people; some friendships lasted while others hit rock bottom. I was in this relationship with this guy who I thought was amazing and I felt he couldn’t do any wrong in my eyes. One day, however, he began to lie to me. When I found out he was cheating on me, I couldn’t take it anymore.
He became abusive and even though I didn’t fear him I knew that I needed to get out of that before it was too late. Being with him after this affected my everyday life tremendously; my grades dropped, I lost friends, and the Shamonica everybody use to know was no longer there.
This made my life feel empty and being that my mother never wanted me with him from the beginning I was afraid to talk to her. I had no choice, though, I was in trouble and needed my strong right arm to support me. She told me what I needed to do to end the situation and I did just what she told me. From that point on, we’ve been separated. We’re still friends, but he’s just not boyfriend material.
From this experience, I learned to not let anything such as a relationship get the best of me and take my pride. You should be happy and love yourself before you can be happy and love somebody else. That experience also taught me to listen and not take people for granted no matter what the situation is. This experience has done a lot to me and it helped me grow over the years. Honestly, if I could replay the whole thing I think I would, but I would like to put him in my shoes so he could know how it feels to be hurt and lied to.
Freshman should learn that being in high school is a big thing, and they shouldn’t let anything, especially a guy or a girl, get in their way. They may not be with you forever and they won’t help you if you fall down and need a hand. My advice to you guys would be come to high school with a clear mind and be prepared to learn and grow. You can be in a relationship, just don’t let it interfere with your learning.
He became abusive and even though I didn’t fear him I knew that I needed to get out of that before it was too late. Being with him after this affected my everyday life tremendously; my grades dropped, I lost friends, and the Shamonica everybody use to know was no longer there.
This made my life feel empty and being that my mother never wanted me with him from the beginning I was afraid to talk to her. I had no choice, though, I was in trouble and needed my strong right arm to support me. She told me what I needed to do to end the situation and I did just what she told me. From that point on, we’ve been separated. We’re still friends, but he’s just not boyfriend material.
From this experience, I learned to not let anything such as a relationship get the best of me and take my pride. You should be happy and love yourself before you can be happy and love somebody else. That experience also taught me to listen and not take people for granted no matter what the situation is. This experience has done a lot to me and it helped me grow over the years. Honestly, if I could replay the whole thing I think I would, but I would like to put him in my shoes so he could know how it feels to be hurt and lied to.
Freshman should learn that being in high school is a big thing, and they shouldn’t let anything, especially a guy or a girl, get in their way. They may not be with you forever and they won’t help you if you fall down and need a hand. My advice to you guys would be come to high school with a clear mind and be prepared to learn and grow. You can be in a relationship, just don’t let it interfere with your learning.
Not Caring by Kendall Johnson
When I started 9th grade, I really wasn’t concerned about passing my classes. I really didn’t care if I passed or not. All I wanted to do was have fun and hang with my friends. I thought I was doing good, but then I saw my first progress report. I was failing all my classes except one. I felt like a real fool. My whole freshman year, I got nothing but three credits.
My mind was in total shock. I got scared, not because I thought my mom was going to kill me, but because I knew I was not going to graduate on time. Then I talked to my counselor, Ms. Wade. She got me in all the classes I needed to graduate. She sat me down and told me that if I kept this up, I would let a lot of people down, including my family, her, and myself.
Out of all this I learned to always pay attention in class. If you do, you will be rewarded in the end. You can learn from my mistakes. Don’t be who other people want you to be. Be who you want to be. Don’t just come to school to hang out with friend like I did. Graduate from Cedar Shoals and make something out your life.
My mind was in total shock. I got scared, not because I thought my mom was going to kill me, but because I knew I was not going to graduate on time. Then I talked to my counselor, Ms. Wade. She got me in all the classes I needed to graduate. She sat me down and told me that if I kept this up, I would let a lot of people down, including my family, her, and myself.
Out of all this I learned to always pay attention in class. If you do, you will be rewarded in the end. You can learn from my mistakes. Don’t be who other people want you to be. Be who you want to be. Don’t just come to school to hang out with friend like I did. Graduate from Cedar Shoals and make something out your life.
Start off Good by Quentin Smith
I remember my first year at Cedar Shoals High School. It started out good, well not that good; I thought it was going to be easy my first year, but your first year is the hardest. I was on track at first, then I started playing around and my grades started to drop slowly. As my grades started to drop, I stopped doing my work. I started to think that there was no possible way that I could get my grades up in a certain amount of weeks. I started trying to get back on my work, but it was too late, I was just starting to catch up with my work in most of my classes but I didn’t. I only passed two out of four classes the first semester. The second semester I started to get back on it. I passed three out of four classes but it still wasn’t a good year for me. After that I promised my self that I would catch up no matter what happened during my life. That summer I would go to summer school so I could catch up with my classes.
The second year of my high school life came along, and I was feeling quite good for the year started off good. The previous summer helped me out a lot because I almost got caught back up. The first semester of my tenth grade year I started off good so at the end of the semester I could lay back a little, so I wouldn’t have as much stuff on my shoulders. I passed three out of four classes; that is not the greatest but it’s a start. The second semester of my tenth grade year I promised myself that I would pass all of my classes so that I wouldn’t have to work as hard as I had to my first year. By the end of the year, I was only passing three classes. I was disappointed in myself because I had made a promise to myself that I was going to pass all of my classes, and besides my mom told me that if I didn’t pass all of my classes I couldn’t play basketball so that made me work harder. The last week of school I was failing one class with a 69. The only way I was able to pass the class was to pass the course test and I did. I was so happy because I passed all of my classes and could play basketball the next year.
The last two years of my high school years are almost over. When my eleventh grade year was upon me and I was excited. That is the year that tells you whether you’re going to be a senior or not. That year I was playing basketball so I knew it was going to be very successful, because I wanted to be a part of the basketball team the whole semester. I completed seven out of eight classes my eleventh grade year, and I stayed on the basketball team the whole semester. My 12th grade year has not come yet. I advise you to start of your ninth grade year passing all the classes that you can pass. If you wait until your tenth grade year, you might not be a tenth grader. Just start off good when you get in the ninth, so you can sit back your last year.
The second year of my high school life came along, and I was feeling quite good for the year started off good. The previous summer helped me out a lot because I almost got caught back up. The first semester of my tenth grade year I started off good so at the end of the semester I could lay back a little, so I wouldn’t have as much stuff on my shoulders. I passed three out of four classes; that is not the greatest but it’s a start. The second semester of my tenth grade year I promised myself that I would pass all of my classes so that I wouldn’t have to work as hard as I had to my first year. By the end of the year, I was only passing three classes. I was disappointed in myself because I had made a promise to myself that I was going to pass all of my classes, and besides my mom told me that if I didn’t pass all of my classes I couldn’t play basketball so that made me work harder. The last week of school I was failing one class with a 69. The only way I was able to pass the class was to pass the course test and I did. I was so happy because I passed all of my classes and could play basketball the next year.
The last two years of my high school years are almost over. When my eleventh grade year was upon me and I was excited. That is the year that tells you whether you’re going to be a senior or not. That year I was playing basketball so I knew it was going to be very successful, because I wanted to be a part of the basketball team the whole semester. I completed seven out of eight classes my eleventh grade year, and I stayed on the basketball team the whole semester. My 12th grade year has not come yet. I advise you to start of your ninth grade year passing all the classes that you can pass. If you wait until your tenth grade year, you might not be a tenth grader. Just start off good when you get in the ninth, so you can sit back your last year.
Moving by Sarah Alexander
Have you ever had to move schools almost every year of your schooling? Well, I have. I have gone to four different high schools in my high school years. Different schools each year started to depress me. It started to make me feel like I couldn’t do it. I wanted to just go ahead, drop out, and just go get my G.E.D. My junior year, I had a teacher from Oconee County High School, Mrs. Row, sit down with me once a week to make sure I had done all of my work. She told me that I was not a lost cause and she would never look at me like that. She gave me so much more than I could have ever asked for.
I would still be sleeping in my bed if it wasn’t for Mrs. Row. I wanted so bad to leave school every day, or skip a class period throughout the day. I learned my responsibilities; I learned that school is my daily job. I realized that I was 18 years old in the 11th grade and still behaving like a freshman, no offense. I have been on my own throughout my last 2 years of high school and I can say that these have been the most stressful. Keep your work and grades up as a freshman and you will have no worries about graduating at the top of your class.
If I can live on my own, with bills to pay, a job to keep up with and school to attend, then you can go to school and do your work. It will be over as soon before you know it. You won’t have to repeat anything if you keep all your work up. If there is not a teacher looking out for you, there are always friends. If you really need someone by your side, look around. I had a good friend by my side through out all of this. I had to do it, I am almost there, and I am doing it for me and ME only! Keep a positive attitude and you too will graduate with high grades and the ability to go to any college you can desire.
I would still be sleeping in my bed if it wasn’t for Mrs. Row. I wanted so bad to leave school every day, or skip a class period throughout the day. I learned my responsibilities; I learned that school is my daily job. I realized that I was 18 years old in the 11th grade and still behaving like a freshman, no offense. I have been on my own throughout my last 2 years of high school and I can say that these have been the most stressful. Keep your work and grades up as a freshman and you will have no worries about graduating at the top of your class.
If I can live on my own, with bills to pay, a job to keep up with and school to attend, then you can go to school and do your work. It will be over as soon before you know it. You won’t have to repeat anything if you keep all your work up. If there is not a teacher looking out for you, there are always friends. If you really need someone by your side, look around. I had a good friend by my side through out all of this. I had to do it, I am almost there, and I am doing it for me and ME only! Keep a positive attitude and you too will graduate with high grades and the ability to go to any college you can desire.
Don't Slack Off by Nestor Avila
Hey, what’s up to the little freshmen out there?! I remember when I was in 9th grade, too. It seems like the sophomores, juniors, and seniors like to pick on you, doesn’t it? Well, at least to ya’ll. I never got pushed around, but 9th grade was still the hardest year for me. That’s also the year, though, that I really paid attention and did my work. I remembered my big brother who also came to Cedar Shoals. He said that freshman year was the year to really put in work, so I did and it was hard because we had just came from middle school, where everything was all fun and games and nobody cared about credits or had the stress of not being able to walk on graduation. I felt stressed because there was so much homework and school work. It sucks to be a freshman, because they put you in the classes that you need to take in order to graduate. I was a little bit nervous because I didn’t know too many people and I barely ever spoke to anyone. Nobody really helped to get me focused. I kind of stood for myself since I knew that good grades meant good things. Now that I’m in 12th grade, I’m glad I didn’t slip in my 9th grade year, since it is the grade that you need to put in the most effort. After 9th grade, your other years are going to slide through like nothing.
I realized that slacking off in the first year of high school is a big deal. It is going to get you in the future and it’s going to be harder because life doesn’t wait; you have to keep up with it. Like me, once I became a sophomore it just seemed that I wasn’t working as hard as I did a year before and I guess it was because as you go on, you start getting new interests in other stuff, if you know what I mean. I’m not saying to not have fun, but try to balance fun and work and make sure you do have fun because you are not a teenager forever.
I realized that slacking off in the first year of high school is a big deal. It is going to get you in the future and it’s going to be harder because life doesn’t wait; you have to keep up with it. Like me, once I became a sophomore it just seemed that I wasn’t working as hard as I did a year before and I guess it was because as you go on, you start getting new interests in other stuff, if you know what I mean. I’m not saying to not have fun, but try to balance fun and work and make sure you do have fun because you are not a teenager forever.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Doing Just Enough to Pass by Shenna Simpson
When I first came to Cedar, I was kind of scared. I thought that high school was going to be hard to the point where I wasn’t going to be able to graduate. But as I went through my first semester of classes my freshman year, I began to realize that it wasn’t as hard as everyone had said it was. Don’t get me wrong, though; you still had to work in order to pass those classes. And, unfortunately, even then I didn’t do all my work. I only did enough to pass but only just barely. My teachers kept telling me that they knew that I could do better. I would then work harder but soon return to barely passing again.
I have learned from looking back on my freshman year that I should have tried harder than just barely passing. Believe it or not, the teachers and other adults weren’t joking when they said the colleges actually look at your grades. They seriously do. So if you are definitely looking to go to a good college then you will really need to make sure you get good grades like A’s and B’s in all your classes. Since I didn’t try harder in 9th grade, I can’t go to UGA first. I’m going to have to go to a community college for 2 years first before I can go to UGA. Oh and don’t forget to listen to your teachers when they give you advice. They wouldn’t waste their time telling you something useless.
What you can learn from this is that playing around, not doing your work, and just barely passing your classes during your first year isn’t a very smart thing to do. Plus you need to do the same for your sophomore and junior year. So put a little more effort in to your class work and homework. Don’t settle for a C. Go for a B and keep that grade up. If you do all of this then you won’t have to worry about making classes up. If you have to do that, you will also be able to get in to the college that you want to go to the first time around and not a community or junior college first.
I have learned from looking back on my freshman year that I should have tried harder than just barely passing. Believe it or not, the teachers and other adults weren’t joking when they said the colleges actually look at your grades. They seriously do. So if you are definitely looking to go to a good college then you will really need to make sure you get good grades like A’s and B’s in all your classes. Since I didn’t try harder in 9th grade, I can’t go to UGA first. I’m going to have to go to a community college for 2 years first before I can go to UGA. Oh and don’t forget to listen to your teachers when they give you advice. They wouldn’t waste their time telling you something useless.
What you can learn from this is that playing around, not doing your work, and just barely passing your classes during your first year isn’t a very smart thing to do. Plus you need to do the same for your sophomore and junior year. So put a little more effort in to your class work and homework. Don’t settle for a C. Go for a B and keep that grade up. If you do all of this then you won’t have to worry about making classes up. If you have to do that, you will also be able to get in to the college that you want to go to the first time around and not a community or junior college first.
Plagiarism by Antoine Stewart
During my freshman year of high school, I got into trouble from writing an essay over a book in my lit/comp class. I had to type my essay and turn it in by the next day. Instead of writing it myself, I went on a website and copied and pasted my essay. I wasn’t supposed to, because it was plagiarism, but I thought it wasn’t. I felt what I was doing wasn’t bad because it was on a website that used free essays, and I felt I wasn’t going to get caught. When I got in trouble, I felt terrible, because I got caught and didn’t want to get in to a lot of trouble and didn’t want to have to talk to the principal about what I did. After this happened, I had to learn my lesson on my own, because no one else was going to. By doing this, I never got into anymore trouble while in school.
From me doing this on an assignment, I really learned that trying to cheat and not wanting to do what was right, resulted in me almost getting expelled. I will always remember this situation and remember how I was thinking at the time because I felt so good when I was doing it, thinking I wasn’t going to get caught and get a passing grade on my essay. If I were to comment on what I did from my teacher’s view, I would have to say “stupid.” If I were to have seen a student that was smart as I was do something that would get him in major trouble, I would say his actions were pathetic and stupid.
I would hope that freshmen who are trying to graduate from high school will not even try to take short cuts as I did. All freshmen should come to high school with a positive mindset, wanting to pass all classes without cheating or trying to get by without hard work. I wish I had started off with more positive feelings and having a good mindset my freshman year. If I had, I would have been way more successful in high school and would have taken it to college with me.
From me doing this on an assignment, I really learned that trying to cheat and not wanting to do what was right, resulted in me almost getting expelled. I will always remember this situation and remember how I was thinking at the time because I felt so good when I was doing it, thinking I wasn’t going to get caught and get a passing grade on my essay. If I were to comment on what I did from my teacher’s view, I would have to say “stupid.” If I were to have seen a student that was smart as I was do something that would get him in major trouble, I would say his actions were pathetic and stupid.
I would hope that freshmen who are trying to graduate from high school will not even try to take short cuts as I did. All freshmen should come to high school with a positive mindset, wanting to pass all classes without cheating or trying to get by without hard work. I wish I had started off with more positive feelings and having a good mindset my freshman year. If I had, I would have been way more successful in high school and would have taken it to college with me.
My Mama by Venycia Strong
My first year in high school was not bad. I was kind of nervous, but once I got out of the car and saw my friends I was ok. The first year in high school was the first time I made a “C” for a final grade in any class. I was ok with it, but my mama wasn’t. Once my mama saw my grades, she told me that I could do better. She said that once I started to apply to colleges they were not only going to look at my SAT scores or my grades from just 12th grade; they were going to look at all 4 years. Throughout the next semester, my mama stayed hard on me making sure I did all of my homework and didn’t sleep in class, which I always did before. She even called the teachers and told them to e-mail her all my grades. By the end of that semester, I had all my grades up. Until I moved here last year, my mama still had my teachers e-mail my grades to her. She is a great influence on my success throughout high school and probably life.
That experience taught me a valuable lesson. It taught me to do well in school and that my mama is a strong-willed person. It also taught me to work hard and do my best in school because what I do in school determines what I do in the future. By me not paying attention and sleeping in class, I earned a “C.” Now I had to make up for that in the rest of my grades, and I’m proud to say that I never made another “C” for a final grade throughout my time in high school.
You freshman can learn that just because you are in high school now, you can’t just slack off in your grades, because it will follow you throughout your high school career. If you have a mama like mine, it’s best that you don’t slack off because she will be all over you until you get those grades up. I hope that you guys can learn from my experience and not slack off and pay attention. I can’t stress to you enough how important it is that you keep your grades up and try to strive for the best for yourself. I hope you take what I have said in this letter into consideration for yourself. Follow my steps if you want, but I encourage you to make your own steps and make your own memories for yourself not based on what I have done. Peace.
That experience taught me a valuable lesson. It taught me to do well in school and that my mama is a strong-willed person. It also taught me to work hard and do my best in school because what I do in school determines what I do in the future. By me not paying attention and sleeping in class, I earned a “C.” Now I had to make up for that in the rest of my grades, and I’m proud to say that I never made another “C” for a final grade throughout my time in high school.
You freshman can learn that just because you are in high school now, you can’t just slack off in your grades, because it will follow you throughout your high school career. If you have a mama like mine, it’s best that you don’t slack off because she will be all over you until you get those grades up. I hope that you guys can learn from my experience and not slack off and pay attention. I can’t stress to you enough how important it is that you keep your grades up and try to strive for the best for yourself. I hope you take what I have said in this letter into consideration for yourself. Follow my steps if you want, but I encourage you to make your own steps and make your own memories for yourself not based on what I have done. Peace.
Freshmanitis by Klifton Gresham
I was very scared when I came to high school. I thought it was going to be very hard. The first semester of my freshman year, I did not even come to school for like half of the semester because of “freshmanitis.” I never did any of my work, and I felt bad about it. I wanted to change. The next semester, I did better and got all A’s and one C. My family helped me change by giving me encouragement throughout my fearful freshman year.
I learned a lot form this experience. I learned that to make it in high school you just need to do your work and forget about it. It is hard to do this but it is worth it. Now I am in the 12th grade, and I’m getting ready to get out of here. Last but not least, I’m passing all my classes with good grades so I can get the HOPE scholarship. It is worth about $20,000 ,which is about half of what you pay for college. You should shoot for this, too.
What you can learn from my experience is simple. Do all of your work and you will pass. My advice to you is to work hard and play later. If you do all of your work in the first three years of your high school career, you will be able to chill in your 12th grade year. Then you can enjoy your last year of high school with ease. Most of all don’t let anybody bring you down.
I learned a lot form this experience. I learned that to make it in high school you just need to do your work and forget about it. It is hard to do this but it is worth it. Now I am in the 12th grade, and I’m getting ready to get out of here. Last but not least, I’m passing all my classes with good grades so I can get the HOPE scholarship. It is worth about $20,000 ,which is about half of what you pay for college. You should shoot for this, too.
What you can learn from my experience is simple. Do all of your work and you will pass. My advice to you is to work hard and play later. If you do all of your work in the first three years of your high school career, you will be able to chill in your 12th grade year. Then you can enjoy your last year of high school with ease. Most of all don’t let anybody bring you down.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Catching Up by Terrell Watkins
In the 9th grade, I played football. When I got home from practice, I never did any homework. I would just go home, take a shower, eat, and go to sleep. Since I did that everyday, when I got in class I didn’t know what to do. I would just sleep in class everyday. When the first semester was over, I had failed every class. I felt bad about what I had done that last semester so I had to catch up that next semester. I had to take all four classes, plus zero and fifth period to catch up. My reaction was like, “Dang, I just messed my whole high school life up cause I got to do a lot of catching up in these next couple of years.” I changed around because of the football coach. Coach Wilkins said, “Son, what’s going with your classes? You have to make a change.” So I did.
I learned from this experience by having to catch up on my education for like two years. I failed those four classes that semester but it wasn’t fun doing that because I wasn’t able to go and party like I wanted to. My experience wasn’t fun because it was a waste of time going back and starting a class over for another semester.
Freshman can learn by this by just doing their work and not playing in class. They can learn from my experience by just paying attention to their teachers and not their friends. Also, if they play a sport, they should do their homework after practice. Also, they should just be nice to their teachers because it will help out during the end of the semester.
I learned from this experience by having to catch up on my education for like two years. I failed those four classes that semester but it wasn’t fun doing that because I wasn’t able to go and party like I wanted to. My experience wasn’t fun because it was a waste of time going back and starting a class over for another semester.
Freshman can learn by this by just doing their work and not playing in class. They can learn from my experience by just paying attention to their teachers and not their friends. Also, if they play a sport, they should do their homework after practice. Also, they should just be nice to their teachers because it will help out during the end of the semester.
Getting Credits and Playing Sports by Harrison Stephens
In the 10th grade I was playing ball for Cedar Shoals and my grades started to slip. I had to get off the team for the second half of the season that year. I felt like I had let myself, my team, and my family down. I reacted to it in a positive way. I knew I had messed up so I had to get focused and back on track so I could be eligible for the next season. My teachers helped me, and I helped myself by doing my work and by paying attention in class.
From this experience I learned that you don’t need to slack in your class, because if you really like sports like I do, you would keep your grades up. Instead of slacking and getting kicked of the team, just keep your grades up and do what you love to do. Plus you want to graduate on time with your class. I feel like I should have done better than I did, because getting kicked off the team was a key part of my life.
Freshmen can learn from this experience by taking pride in their work and devoting themselves to what they want and love to do. Slacking will just make you lose focus and not help you to stay on track to graduate. It will keep you from getting that scholarship to that college you always wanted to go to. My final advice to you freshmen is to just keep your head up and stay focused on your work in order to graduate. Just don’t do anything to jeopardize your chances of graduating. Do everything in your power to get your credits and walk across that stage.
From this experience I learned that you don’t need to slack in your class, because if you really like sports like I do, you would keep your grades up. Instead of slacking and getting kicked of the team, just keep your grades up and do what you love to do. Plus you want to graduate on time with your class. I feel like I should have done better than I did, because getting kicked off the team was a key part of my life.
Freshmen can learn from this experience by taking pride in their work and devoting themselves to what they want and love to do. Slacking will just make you lose focus and not help you to stay on track to graduate. It will keep you from getting that scholarship to that college you always wanted to go to. My final advice to you freshmen is to just keep your head up and stay focused on your work in order to graduate. Just don’t do anything to jeopardize your chances of graduating. Do everything in your power to get your credits and walk across that stage.
Don't Be Afraid!! by Everette Davis
Like most of you freshmen, I felt scared about starting high school. I was especially afraid of going to a new school, new classes, and most of new high school children’s problems, new friends. I started high school and seemed to be in the corner of the room away from the other children, since most of my classes did not include the friends I had the previous year.
I would sit and sleep in class because I am the type of person who needs people to talk to or I feel very low. I would also not answer questions that the teacher asked the class because I felt if I made a mistake then the others wouldn’t accept me because I was either too smart or too dumb. My grades were slipping because when the teacher would pair us up into partners, I would be the one that was depending on the others for the help because I was too afraid to give my own opinion.
After a couple of months, my teacher saw that I was not being cooperative with the other classmates and I discussed my problems with her. She gave me some advice. She said that I should not be afraid of what others would think of me and to find some people that I had something in common with. She told me that I would be fine. I did just that. I started answering and asking questions in front of the class and nobody said anything about me. The teacher then made a class activity in which she would say a word and if you were interested in it then you would raise your hand. Then she’d call whoever had their hand up and they would say what they would like about that word. For example she would say cartoon and people would raise their hand and she’d call on them and they would give their favorite cartoons. This made finding people with the same interests as you easily. After a few weeks I was making a good number of friends.
Listen, making friends is easy; just take my word for it. I’m a senior and I can’t go down the hallway without seeing any of my friends there. If you are a person that is afraid to make friends, talk to your teachers and see if they can do anything about it. Since that experience, I have made good grades thanks to the help of my new friends, and you can, too. Don’t let the difficulty of making friends bring you down in your new high school environment. Just do your best and try to graduate.
I would sit and sleep in class because I am the type of person who needs people to talk to or I feel very low. I would also not answer questions that the teacher asked the class because I felt if I made a mistake then the others wouldn’t accept me because I was either too smart or too dumb. My grades were slipping because when the teacher would pair us up into partners, I would be the one that was depending on the others for the help because I was too afraid to give my own opinion.
After a couple of months, my teacher saw that I was not being cooperative with the other classmates and I discussed my problems with her. She gave me some advice. She said that I should not be afraid of what others would think of me and to find some people that I had something in common with. She told me that I would be fine. I did just that. I started answering and asking questions in front of the class and nobody said anything about me. The teacher then made a class activity in which she would say a word and if you were interested in it then you would raise your hand. Then she’d call whoever had their hand up and they would say what they would like about that word. For example she would say cartoon and people would raise their hand and she’d call on them and they would give their favorite cartoons. This made finding people with the same interests as you easily. After a few weeks I was making a good number of friends.
Listen, making friends is easy; just take my word for it. I’m a senior and I can’t go down the hallway without seeing any of my friends there. If you are a person that is afraid to make friends, talk to your teachers and see if they can do anything about it. Since that experience, I have made good grades thanks to the help of my new friends, and you can, too. Don’t let the difficulty of making friends bring you down in your new high school environment. Just do your best and try to graduate.
Be Successful in Life by John Lumpkin
I failed a couple of classes my tenth grade year. I didn’t like the fact that I failed classes because when the teacher took roll at the beginning of class, he might not freeze the Smartboard and it would show that I was not in the right grade. Everybody would turn their nosey butts around and start to give me 100 questions and stuff. I went to my counselor and got a little bit of advice and she helped me become eligible to graduate in May of 2010.
What I learned from this experience was that I don’t need to play around with my education. My experience was a tough thing to go through but I made it through and got all my credits back.
The lesson I want the freshman to learn is you shouldn’t play around with your education during your ninth grade year. It’ll mess you up. Just get all your work done and be successful in life.
What I learned from this experience was that I don’t need to play around with my education. My experience was a tough thing to go through but I made it through and got all my credits back.
The lesson I want the freshman to learn is you shouldn’t play around with your education during your ninth grade year. It’ll mess you up. Just get all your work done and be successful in life.
Regret by Benika Sims
I am writing to tell you about my personal experience, what I have learned, and what I like the most. I will also tell you about what I think you should do to be a great and successful student!
In my freshman year, I was always trying to be the one to get along with everyone, trying to fit in. I was caring so much about my friends that I wasn’t worried about my work! Then I started fighting with a girl who was a senior. I got suspended for the rest of the year and my freshmen year had just begun. I regret that! I wish it had never happened. I now realize if it wasn’t for that fight, my senior year would be so laid back. However, I have gotten myself together, and I will be graduating on time!
Through my experience I learned a lot. I talk to the freshman on a daily basis and tell them what not to do and to avoid the situation I got caught in.
Overall, I think you should know graduating is the most important thing and that you should strive to make it. Times will get rough but you got to keep pressing on until you reach your goal.
In my freshman year, I was always trying to be the one to get along with everyone, trying to fit in. I was caring so much about my friends that I wasn’t worried about my work! Then I started fighting with a girl who was a senior. I got suspended for the rest of the year and my freshmen year had just begun. I regret that! I wish it had never happened. I now realize if it wasn’t for that fight, my senior year would be so laid back. However, I have gotten myself together, and I will be graduating on time!
Through my experience I learned a lot. I talk to the freshman on a daily basis and tell them what not to do and to avoid the situation I got caught in.
Overall, I think you should know graduating is the most important thing and that you should strive to make it. Times will get rough but you got to keep pressing on until you reach your goal.
What I Learned by Jermaine Foster
My 9th grade year I wasn’t scared or nothing but I knew that I needed to come up here and pass all my classes. But I didn’t pass all my classes. I failed Algebra 1. I had to go to summer school to make it up. I’m telling you that isn’t something you don’t want to do. You are going to realize that if had passed that class then you wouldn’t be sitting in school in the middle of June. This is the worst feeling in the world because you know everyone is out doing whatever and you are sitting in one class for four hours.
What I learned from this experience is that you need to come to school and do all your work. You need to not play around at all, because you don’t want to be in your senior year with only 18 credits when you need 28 to graduate. I learned you will have plenty of time to play around because some of your classes are going to be that easy. But for your hard classes, you need take them very seriously. I wish I had never failed math my 9th grade year. If I had never failed that class, I could home during my 3rd period.
From my freshman year, I learned that I should have passed all my classes, and I should have been an honor roll student from the get go. I should have been in the book. If I had just done better, my senior year would’ve been much easier. My final thought is that you need to come to school and do everything the right way. That way, your time in high school will be an easy time in your life.
What I learned from this experience is that you need to come to school and do all your work. You need to not play around at all, because you don’t want to be in your senior year with only 18 credits when you need 28 to graduate. I learned you will have plenty of time to play around because some of your classes are going to be that easy. But for your hard classes, you need take them very seriously. I wish I had never failed math my 9th grade year. If I had never failed that class, I could home during my 3rd period.
From my freshman year, I learned that I should have passed all my classes, and I should have been an honor roll student from the get go. I should have been in the book. If I had just done better, my senior year would’ve been much easier. My final thought is that you need to come to school and do everything the right way. That way, your time in high school will be an easy time in your life.
Don't Mess Up Your First Year by Daniel Garcia
Freshmen, don’t mess up your first year because it can lead to a real bad start in your high school experience. I know because I had to catch up on all the classes I failed. I used be tardy and not do the work. I would just fall asleep during class. The teachers would give out a lot of work, and I would just talk rather than do the work. In my first semester I only passed two classes. I thought that was good enough but it wasn’t.
The second semester I started to do better because during second period, which was my visual arts class, I was called up to the counselor’s office. It was a small group that met every Friday. The main purpose of the group was to talk to students about how they could improve in their classes and keep up with work, assignments, projects, and homework. We had a choice if we wanted to go. There were five other students there but one of my friends and I decided to stay because I was bored in visual arts.
Ms. Johnson, one of the counselors, and this other teacher would show us posters and give us small assignments to keep us motivated in school work. After realizing that school is not a chill spot and that I should be focusing on my work, I started to do well. I did not pass my freshman year because of one credit but after that I skipped the 10th grade and I was back on track. I had caught up with all my classes my junior year.
So what I’ve learned from this experience is that I should have focused more my first year, because in the first year, you build a foundation for your school work. After your freshman year, everything will be easy. My advice to freshman is to do your work and homework. Don’t mess up your first year.
The second semester I started to do better because during second period, which was my visual arts class, I was called up to the counselor’s office. It was a small group that met every Friday. The main purpose of the group was to talk to students about how they could improve in their classes and keep up with work, assignments, projects, and homework. We had a choice if we wanted to go. There were five other students there but one of my friends and I decided to stay because I was bored in visual arts.
Ms. Johnson, one of the counselors, and this other teacher would show us posters and give us small assignments to keep us motivated in school work. After realizing that school is not a chill spot and that I should be focusing on my work, I started to do well. I did not pass my freshman year because of one credit but after that I skipped the 10th grade and I was back on track. I had caught up with all my classes my junior year.
So what I’ve learned from this experience is that I should have focused more my first year, because in the first year, you build a foundation for your school work. After your freshman year, everything will be easy. My advice to freshman is to do your work and homework. Don’t mess up your first year.
Work Now, Play Later by Althea Barnes
I had fun just thinking about being in the 9th grade. When I got to Cedar Shoals, I thought it was play-time. I started off doing my work until I was filled with boredom. By that point, I got way off-task. I would talk and walk the hallways. Even when asked to be quiet, I would curse and carry-on. I got into fights and disturbed others. I went to ISS so much, I got use to it.
When I started to see that my mother and administrators were tired of seeing me in trouble, I changed my ways. I felt bad that I was disturbing others who just wanted to learn. It seemed to me that I thought I had to get special privileges, but that’s not how it works.
After my destructive year, I changed my ways and buckled down. I even got Honor Roll my 10th grade year. I listened more than I talked. Every time someone asked me to do a non-academic event, I told them I couldn’t. I stopped hanging with those crowds that wanted to be unsuccessful. It made me feel good to be out of trouble through that year.
My mom really gave me a wake up call. She made me understand that if I don’t do what I have to now, I won’t be able to support myself in the future. Without education, you really won’t get too far, and that’s the truth. Now I see it for myself. When you listen to the people who want to help you, you can get you farther.
Through all of this, I learned that it takes more than a high school diploma to get through life. It’s definitely too rough for us to just get out there and make it without an education. I see that all the grown people who work at fast-food restaurants are the ones who fooled around and didn’t do what was best for them. So, if you want to work somewhere like that you can continue your bad lifestyle. It will only put you in a place you don’t want to be.
To all freshmen, do your best to the fullest because when you let all this free education pass by you, you will struggle from that day on. Wouldn’t you like to take care of your mom one day? I know you will make someone proud of you. It feels good when someone tells you “good job” or “congratulations." Doing what you can now will make your future so much easier.
When I started to see that my mother and administrators were tired of seeing me in trouble, I changed my ways. I felt bad that I was disturbing others who just wanted to learn. It seemed to me that I thought I had to get special privileges, but that’s not how it works.
After my destructive year, I changed my ways and buckled down. I even got Honor Roll my 10th grade year. I listened more than I talked. Every time someone asked me to do a non-academic event, I told them I couldn’t. I stopped hanging with those crowds that wanted to be unsuccessful. It made me feel good to be out of trouble through that year.
My mom really gave me a wake up call. She made me understand that if I don’t do what I have to now, I won’t be able to support myself in the future. Without education, you really won’t get too far, and that’s the truth. Now I see it for myself. When you listen to the people who want to help you, you can get you farther.
Through all of this, I learned that it takes more than a high school diploma to get through life. It’s definitely too rough for us to just get out there and make it without an education. I see that all the grown people who work at fast-food restaurants are the ones who fooled around and didn’t do what was best for them. So, if you want to work somewhere like that you can continue your bad lifestyle. It will only put you in a place you don’t want to be.
To all freshmen, do your best to the fullest because when you let all this free education pass by you, you will struggle from that day on. Wouldn’t you like to take care of your mom one day? I know you will make someone proud of you. It feels good when someone tells you “good job” or “congratulations." Doing what you can now will make your future so much easier.
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