By Pelagia Harris, Jonathan Richman, Timothy Um and Enoch Yip
Going into a new school can be very stressful, scary and exciting. Especially 6th grade. But really once you get started it really isn’t that bad. Of course on the first day the busting through the halls, new faces, and more can seem very scary. But you get used to it, you make new friends, and in no time you really like it…you just need a few tips and pointers.
The four of us (Pelagia Harris, Jonathan Richman, Timothy Um and Enoch Yip) who will be 7th graders in September 2022 have had lots of experience in your year of HORROR, TORTURE AND PAIN!!! Wait…No, only joking, but seriously, take our advice. We already dealt with this year and we know how to make being a Marie Curie student a great experience. Here are some important tips you can use to get past your 6th grade year!
Jonathan’s perspective:
6th grade is tough being your first year of middle school and all; however, there are many ways to get past it.
1. Make sure you have a trusted friends group. With lots of friends you have ways of making up your work if you're absent. They really help you. When you are bored they really help. They probably play sports or at least throw a ball so do that with them. Make a good friends group
2. Always have a strong connection to all of your teachers. If your teachers don’t like it, it's not going to be a good year. They will treat you how you treat them, so respect all teachers at all times. Do not fool around at all. Make sure they don't have to yell at you to stop you. That is all of my advice. Make sure to read the next paragraphs to get even more ideas you might want to know when you are going into 6th grade! Good luck!
Pelagia’s perspective:
6th grade seems tough from the outside, but when you are actually in it, it's a blast. One thing to do is make sure you are not too uptight. I am not saying to not follow rules or anything like that, but what I am trying to say is just try to have fun! Okay, maybe you break a few small rules, it might seem terrible but really just think about it. Breaking a small rule is like this example “The halls get crowded you might have to run a bit to get to class, they say not to run in the halls but I’d say to get to class on time you might have to break a small rule.
If you are so uptight on the small things, you are really not going to enjoy yourself, you only have one 6th grade! My second and final piece of advice is, what I think is most important, make friends!! At the beginning of the year I did not have many friends because the ones I was closest to were not in my class. But then I made a few friends, then a few more, and honestly it was better than getting a 90% on my test. The reason is because now everyday I do something crazy or fun with my friends. Honestly I don’t think that I would have enjoyed 6th grade without my friends. So I advise you to make friends, it makes 6th grade go by a lot faster and it is nice.
Enoch’s Perspective:
When starting at a new school, it is scary because you don’t know what to expect. You don’t know how strict your teachers are. You don’t know if there is going to be a lot of homework. It is normal to be scared of the unknown but you need to remember to just try your best. It doesn't matter if your friend gets a higher grade than you on your test. If you try your best and put effort in studying for it, it is good enough. If you have the opportunity to do extra credit, do it. No matter how many extra points you will get, just do it. It will make your grade above 100 or bump it up if it is less than 100. Finally, try to get a 95 or above in Math and ELA so you can take the Hunter College High School Admissions Test to get into Hunter College High School. It is a really good high school for grades 7-12 and only about 200 people get in every year.
Timothy’s Perspective:
6th grade is the first grade in middle school. It may seem hard, but if you try hard in each class, you could do it. After school ends, you should do your homework first, so that you don’t get distracted and don’t finish it. I know this, because I experienced it first-hand. You should do your classwork and homework efficiently, so that you get good grades on it. Every assignment counts! A couple days or even a week before a test, you should start studying. It’s better to be prepared than be underprepared! Finally finish your work before the due date, so that it is not handed in late. Some teachers don’t accept late work, and may give you a bad grade. However, 6th grade is a good year to cherish, you can make new friends and make good memories!