High school feels like the uncharted waters that brings students excitement for what's to come, while also bringing in anxiety around such a big transition. Surprisingly my key inspiration for how to approach high school came from watching a Korean drama called Doctor Slump with my elder sister.
The show is about two high school academic rivals and how their different approaches to life shaped their future careers as doctors. Although both of them became successful, neither of them was able to sustain it for long. The female lead spent 17 hours of her day working and studying for her dream medical job, with no room for fun, leading her to face social challenges at work and ultimately a phase of depression. The male lead was a hard worker, and also knew how to balance his career with time for relaxation. This helped him become an award winning plastic surgeon with his own clinic. However, his overly trusting nature got him caught up in a trial for a crime he did not commit, ruining his reputation and putting him in huge debt. These two stories ended up connecting when these old rivals meet again and work together to sort out their lives. This show instantly became one of my favorites because I was able to relate to the mixed feelings of stress, excitement, nervousness, and confidence that the characters experienced. As someone about to enter high school for the first time, I believe that the portrayal of these two characters teaches a valuable lessons about navigating this new chapter in life.
Although I am stressed about fulfilling my goals for the upcoming four years, I'm also excited about all of the new opportunities I will have and the classes I will take. I am nervous about the outcome of my efforts throughout high school but I am still confident in my abilities. Although these conflicting thoughts always seem to pull me in different directions, I keep reminding myself that everything works out in the end because what happens, happens for the best.
I anticipate that the intense workload shift from middle school to high school could hit hard, especially during the first few month, as we all adjust to this big change. The pressure of competition and heavy expectations to get perfect grades may start to weigh down many students, putting their mental and physical health in a dangerous spot. During times like this, it's crucial to never forget to prioritize our wellbeing. We must acknowledge that we are all going through a tough transition right now, and talk to a trusted adult about it, and work with them to get through this. Whether it be rejoining the dance classes you quit to go to a math tutor or meditating to calm your racing thoughts, what's important is to make sure you never stop doing what you love to chase after perfection. It isn’t always easy but know that there are many resources out there for you to get the support you need. Oftentimes, all we need is someone to listen. Although the pressures of high school will not go away, the change in the way we approach them can help us manage academic stress.
Hellen Keller once said, “Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.” Having a true friend be there for you through the ups and downs in life is a blessing and to make sure you make friends here are some tips:
- Make friends with those who understand your boundaries.
- School clubs are great places to make friends because the members already share a common interest with you, and you will be seeing them a lot.
- Muster up the courage to go and start conversation with new people who could be future friends.
- Stay true to yourself no matter who you meet because you never want to start a friendship based on a lie.
For years my family posted Theodore Roosevelt’s quote, “Comparison is the thief of joy,” on our fridge. Life is filled with both successes and failures. Never let go of your dreams and bring down your morale by comparing yourself to others. You have your own strengths and if you work hard then you can use them to your benefit.
Although there are many other approaches to high school out there and you’ll pick up on many of them throughout your journey, these are some of the ones that I feel resonate with what we as youth face at school. I wish you all the best for your future endeavors in high school! Good luck! We got this!
Varnika Kharkwal (she/her/hers) is a rising freshman from Plano, Texas and is a part of the Youth Advisory Board at Peer Health Exchange in which she is a Community Youth Advocate, a Youth Design Group member, and a brand ambassador. During her free time, she plays tennis, practices dance, hangs out with friends and family, and watches new shows on Netflix.