One Step for a Fifth Grader… One Giant Leap for an Eighth Grader!
Kaley Israels, Staff Writer
June 9, 2010
Filed under News Feature, Top Stories
Graduation. A word that can bring tremendous amount of excitement or apprehension, depending on how you choose to look at it. Without a doubt, graduation is many things for each one of us. But without sounding cliché, it is a refining moment in time—a day most of us embark on a memory lane train that goes both ways—forward and back. Back, for those funny memories you shared with your friends at school. Forward, for the ones you hope to make as you look to find your niche—your place in the next ride of your life.
From elementary school to middle school
For those of us who have seen the progression of elementary students crossing the bridge to the “other side of the campus,” perhaps you are likely to view this experience not as a train ride but as a step—taken from one side of a bridge to the other. As you cross it, you find yourself on secondary school terrain. Scary? According to Secondary Principal, Rob Lofthouse, moving up grades isn’t meant to be scary, but exciting. He says, “Be confident and enjoy the year, it is just a small steppingstone to middle school.”
From middle school to high school
Now, if you are an eighth grader, the adventure you’re about to embark on is not just a step, but a giant leap! Don’t be afraid. That leap certainly sounds much higher than it really is. For one thing, your days of poster projects are behind you. But then again, your days of writing papers have just increased! Papers, papers, papers. Did we say papers? So, sharpen your writing skills over the summer. You’ll be glad you did.
Sign up for a writing class over the summer, where you will learn writing techniques, practicing the craft in a multitude of forms. Check out the Creative Writing class insert in this publication for more information. This class, as well as other similar ones, will be extremely valuable as you take your SATs, PSAT’s, and begin applying for colleges and universities during your senior year. Yes, that sounds like millions of years away, but four years go by rather quickly while you’re busy having fun. For your high school years will be that. They may be challenging, but they may be some of the best years of your life.
KEY LESSONS: take the clutter out of your life. Learn to prioritize. Sharpen your study skills. Write well, write often! Not just for school but rather, for fun! Learn to be true to your word. Don’t over-commit yourself. When you commit, let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no. Say what you want to say, but learn to think first. Place God in the center of all things. Be bold. Share your faith. Love unconditionally.
Should eighth graders get excited about high school? Absolutely! Should fifth graders cross that bridge with their eyes wide open. Oh, yeah! Clearly, graduation is a big but exciting step or giant leap, depending on how you look at it. But whether you’re going from elementary to middle school or from middle school to high school, there are four key things you must remember:
Change is certain.
You will be challenged. So, stay focused.
Loving God over all things is not just the smart thing to do, it’s a commandment.
Loving others like yourself is not just a good phrase—it’s God’s Word. Keep it. Learn it. Apply it.