In a few months, eighth graders will be high schoolers. Seniors express the differences that they have encountered from middle school to upper school
Senior Josie Barnes has been at UPrep since sixth grade.
She states that high school definitely feels more self-directed then middle school. Therefore, you manage more things during high school. There is also a significant amount of more freedom.
“You are on your own for things, but then also it’s challenging sometimes,” Barnes said.
Barnes gives advice to middle school students.
“Try and participate in as many activities as you can, and enjoy the early years of high school because it only gets harder,” Barnes said. “I think just being a part of the community is really great because then you have more memories.”
Barnes shadowed a UW doctor, who gave her advice.
“It’s okay to not know something, but then we just take steps to figure it out,” Barnes said. “But sometimes, you just don’t know the answers.”
Senior Emmett Arnold has also been attending UPrep since the sixth grade.
Arnold talks about who he is and what his interests are.
“An athletic person who likes to play sports and hang out with friends,” Arnold said.
He is very into speaking French. He mentions that he is “almost fluent in French” due to UPrep and studying abroad.
Depending on where Arnold will attend college he “wants to major in business or international relations.”
Arnold says upper school English teacher Alana Kaholokula gave him good advice.
“If you really want to see an impact on your grades, you have to really meet your teachers and express interest in the class,” Arnold said
That made an impact on Arnold, meaning Arnold would 100% give that same advice to a middle school student.
Senior Sam Bush has also been attending UPrep since sixth grade.
Bush has figured out that the best advice to give a middle schooler is to “seize every opportunity that you get, and try to carry enthusiasm into everything that you do.”
Bush will attend the University of Colorado next year, and he will major in, “general design, mostly product design, but also do some urban planning architecture.”
Bush speaks a little bit about what a typical day entails for him.
“I usually drive to school, show up around 8:20ish, maybe grab a bite to eat, go to my first class, then go to whatever is for Community Time, hopefully get some work done, and hang out with my friends,” Bush said. “Just going through the schedule, trying to stay focused as long as possible.”