With the start of the 25-26 school year, students may have felt some surprise or confusion as the new school year began. With new classes, schedules, and daily routines, it can be overwhelming at first. To help with that, students from across HAHS shared their best tips on how to help students get settled into the 25-26 school year more comfortably.
One student, Sid Bonning, stated that their advice for our sophomores is, “You may or may not kind of feel like you’re in limbo, stuck between freshman and upperclassmen. Don’t let this get the best of you. It’s okay to still be unsure of things, even if you’ve made it through freshman year. Don’t be afraid to confide in your upperclassmen. We get what you’re going through.” This kind reminder to not be afraid to rely or depend on older peers can highlight how valuable the support of peers can be. While Sid emphasized how important it is to be unafraid of relying on others at school, other students focused on how mindset and effort can help with success.
Another student, Sam Kibiger, provided advice for the freshmen, saying, “You will find your way around the school a lot quicker than you think.” This assists reassuringly to many students, as the high school may appear as a building of complexity, but once students begin locating classes, it all becomes a breeze.
For all students considering looking forward with bigger goals beyond high school, Ellianna Shaaber stated for our HAHS freshmen, “Everything is a fresh start, so take it seriously if you want to succeed. If you put in the effort now, it will make life easier for when things become harder.” Accompanying this encouragement to start strong and stay focused, another student shared tips on how to be mentally confident as a junior.
Another portion of advice provided by Ellianna Shaaber included her advice for the juniors would be to take a deep breath here and then. She stated, “This year can be the hardest one yet depending on your class decisions. Good luck juniors, I believe in you and so do other people, you just have to believe it, too.” Her words are a reminder that while academics matter, maintaining internal balance and taking care of yourself is important, too.
Beyond advice for specific grade levels, many students have shared advice meant for the entire HAHS student body and community. Student Liam Barrett stated, “Keep pushing no matter what. Life sucks sometimes, but we all get through it. As long as you give it your all, you will not fail. People that fail are people who don’t try, so you have to try.” Liam’s advice reminds us that effort and believing in yourself is the true key to success.
As the 25-26 school year progresses, these words of encouragement from your peers are meant to act as a reminder that you are not alone; everybody is facing these difficulties together. Although different grade levels exist and have various complications, these difficulties are all common and everyone has experienced them. With the support of peers, this year can not only end successfully, but everyone can have pride in saying that they managed it and got past it.
