ONE YEAR LATER

SARAH HIOTT | SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2020 | OPNIONS

A year ago as a freshman, I wrote a column about my first day of school. I had been nervous, anxious, and curious as I walked through school, and I learned much about what to expect in the remaining 180 school days. I was told by my teachers how great a school Stanton College Preparatory School could be if a student worked hard. I left school that first day confident that I knew exactly what my freshman year of school would be like. 

In hindsight, I was very mistaken.

I had heard from friends about the long hours studying for tests and completing assignments, not to mention the weight Stanton put on their shoulders. I knew Stanton would be difficult, but I underestimated exactly how hard I would have to work. In reality, Stanton can be extremely difficult if one doesn’t apply themselves. I knew I would have to focus and accomplish much more, but I didn’t realize exactly what that required. 

Prior to my freshman year, I was used to a much different schedule. As a result, I had to change the way I managed my time. I was the typical middle school student who went to sleep by 9:30 p.m. and woke up every morning completely refreshed. By the end of freshman year, I was staying up until 11:30 p.m. and sleeping through my alarm clock. Three hours of work would turn into six, thus showing me my lack of organization and efficiency. At that point, I realized how imperative it was to change.

When we entered online learning last March, most students, including myself, were not expecting how much we had to change our way of learning. However, I still had to apply the lessons I’d learned that year and remember my time management and focus. Even though the courses changed and everyone had to adjust to being at home, Stanton still had the same requirements that I had learned about when I arrived. The few months of online learning required both students and teachers to change how they communicate so that goals could be accomplished. 

With this year being partially online, I think I will have an entirely different set of challenges, along with sophomore year being more difficult than freshman year. I start the International Baccalaureate program next year, and a fair amount of my sophomore year will be preparation for the program’s workload. However, if I work hard and manage my time at home efficiently, I can do well. 

Most students not don’t only have school pressure on their shoulders, but also the expectations of their parents. I always believed my parents had expectations for my grades and performance, but I learned last year I was putting more pressure on myself than they ever had. When I failed a test, I was the one who was disappointed in the performance. My mother always said I just had to do my best, but I always wondered if my best was good enough for Stanton and for myself. 

This year, I learned to understand that I can’t be perfect and that I have to be realistic about my goals. My first year at Stanton was harder than I expected it to be, but I learned a new way to effectively complete my work. I learned how to manage my schedule and I now appreciate the work I put in because the work I do is much harder now. As a freshman, I learned the expectations for a school can be much different than the reality in which students find themselves. 

This year, I believe I will be much more used to Stanton’s requirements and the expectations I set for myself. With enough dedication and effort, I will be much more prepared to excel in the next nine months.