September was really something. It was the very first full month of high school for me. It was full of amazing activities—so many, in fact, that it was too many to include in this article. To summarize my first real month of school, I’ve divided it into four sections, one for each week.
Week 1:
I thought that I would ease into high school. Boy, I couldn’t have been more wrong. I had tests in THREE DIFFERENT SUBJECTS! All week, I spent hours studying, as I wanted to start the year off well. The first two tests went well, but it all took a turn when I had my first in-class essay… safe to say I didn’t do too hot. Let me tell you, as soon as you enter high school, everything starts to ramp up, so be prepared.
Aside from academics, I went to my very first football game, which was fun because I got to hang out with my friends and cheer for the varsity team. I also had my very first cross-country race. All summer, I practiced and ran five miles almost every day in preparation for my big debut. That Saturday morning, nerves were at an all-time high, and there were butterflies in my stomach. Soon enough, I was at the starting line, and the race was off. Halfway through, my body felt as if it were engulfed in flames. After pushing through the extreme pain, I finished the race. I was so proud of myself for completing it and getting a good time.
Week 2:
This week was just like the last. Full of tests and learning! The mounds of homework forced me to stay up until 11 p.m. every night. I was feeling overwhelmed, but after some advice from upperclassmen, I learned that this was normal. As I started to get the hang of things, I worked on developing a simple after-school routine:
3:00 p.m. – Practice
5:30 p.m. – Go home
6:00 p.m. – Dinner
6:30 p.m. – Homework/study
9:00 p.m. – Piano
9:30 p.m. – Study some more
11:00 p.m. – Sleep
Week 3:
This week wasn’t very fun. Another week of studying, homework, tests, assignments, readings, and essays. In fact, I had four tests this week. I went to another football game. For the first time this year, I hung out with my friends on Saturday, and there was another cross-country race, which did not go well. The race day was cold, wet, and overall unpleasant. Running felt like torture, and my results reflected how I was feeling. My legs felt limp, and I wasn’t able to run a time I was satisfied with. However, hanging out with the team cheered me up, and I still felt good about myself for finishing!
Week 4:
The fourth week of September was my favorite. Not because there were fewer tests, homework, and assignments. In truth, it was almost the same as the week before. It was the best because I finally got a HEALTHY routine in place that allowed me to be with the people whom I loved. After a long time, I was able to manage school, cross-country, and other extracurriculars, along with having a social life.
Another HUGE event that happened that week was the club fair. I was able to explore and join many clubs that interested me. I loved learning about the 80+ clubs Tenafly has to offer. I took some advice from some upperclassmen to join certain clubs. A note for incoming freshmen is to always ask those around you for advice on the club fair. Trust me, upperclassmen know their stuff.
Thanks for reading, and I’ll catch you next month!
