As students transition into high school, they may feel excited and nervous, wondering what to expect and how to handle the increased stress and pressure. Seniors at Calabasas High School shared advice they have learned to help their transition go smoother.
One big challenge for many is managing their schedules and balancing academics, sports, extracurricular activities, and relationships with family and friends.
Calabasas High School senior Paige Bruskurd says, “I was involved in sports all four years, and I took a pretty difficult AP schedule, so managing that with extracurriculars and spending time with my friends and family was probably the hardest thing for me,” Bruskurd said.
Tomer Fine, another senior at Calabasas, agrees and believes that it is important to know when to say no. Fine also emphasizes the importance of knowing which opportunities to focus on over others.
“You’re gonna have a lot of opportunities in high school and so many things that come at you, so it’s really important to know what you need to prioritize and what you might not need to prioritize,” Fine said.
As a freshman, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the increasing workload and get caught up in stressful or awkward moments. However, these moments do not define a person. Bruskurd encourages students not to take everything so seriously.
“Just don’t take things so seriously, make the most of your time, and be comfortable with being uncomfortable,” Bruskurd said.
Many seniors agree that students should find their passion as early as possible. Calabasas High School offers a variety of opportunities for students to try out. From sports to clubs and a variety of classes, new students should make an effort to discover activities that they enjoy.
“I would say try to find your interests as early as possible because you never know what it’s gonna be, and just try to really zone in on your talents,” Fine said.
While many believe that grades and extracurriculars are the most important parts of high school, building connections with classmates is equally important, as it creates a support system that helps students succeed throughout high school.
“It’s so important to try to make friends in all your classes because you never know when you’re gonna need someone to send you homework or to send you the notes you forgot about,” Fine said.
As they get ready to graduate, these seniors encourage incoming freshmen to make the most of every moment and create memories that will last long after graduation.
