How well do kids deal with the transition from middle school to high school? A major challenge in a teenager’s life is that school transition, only a few short years closer to getting out into the real world.
Due to the sudden change with kids beginning to focus more on college in addition to their classes, the high school transition is linked to anxiety in new students. According to The Life Ed program, “almost a quarter, 21%, of students surveyed said managing social challenges was their biggest concern, which included making new friends, fitting in with peers, or worries about other students.”
“Another 26% of students perceived adjusting to high school systems and culture as their biggest challenge,” according to the program, which focuses on student health and well-being.
Despite these apparent challenges, some students feel as if they’ve been able to adjust to high school fairly well under specific circumstances.
Xavior Tolliver, a 12th grader at Schenectady High School, says he feels he’s adjusted well because he has a small circle of close friends. The hardest part of school is dealing with kids who tend to joke around and argue with teachers, he said. “You just have to find the right people… And you have to find the right staff,” he said.
Research backs up Tolliver’s experience. A study published by the National Library of Medicine found that “the greater improvements in parent and peer support were linked to fewer depressive symptoms in 9th grade.” This implies that having a close friend or two when going into high school can help students feel more at ease, and therefore help them adjust to the high school environment more.
However, there are still many students who feel they’ve never fully adjusted to the environment, even in their last few years of high school. Anamika Singh, another 12th grader at Schenectady High, says she’s “excited to get out of here. Not because I hate anyone, or I hate the environment, I’m just excited to get a fresher start.”
Anamika went on to describe how during her 9th and 10th grade years at the high school, she struggled with her mental health, which in turn made it harder for her to connect with those around her. She believes friendships are solidified in these two years and she “felt as if it was too late to form strong connections with other people.”
She continued, “I never did any after school activities, and I think that’s why I don’t have any friends.”
Anamika’s claim isn’t that far from the truth. According to Child Focus.org, “Engaging in group activities such as team sports or clubs encourages children to work together and collaborate with others, which in turn fosters the development of vital social skills.”
To any freshmen or transfer students that are struggling with adjusting to school due to having very few friends, an easy solution is to join a club. Students who are interested in sports can join after-school sports such as swimming, basketball, and volleyball. Students interested in the arts can join the art club or theater. All of these activities have a large crowd of students that attend, so you’re sure to find a friend or two. Joining any club or afterschool program can help set you up with those who have interests similar to you.
One club that can help with making friends is theater. For more information email Mr. Muste at [email protected]. Additionally, if you’re interested in any spring sports, email Coach Knolhoff at [email protected].
