For as long as I can remember throughout my years in the school district, I’ve always longed for the day that I could go out for lunch, talk with my friends near my locker like they do in the movies, and go to varsity games with the rest of the school’s upperclassmen. In the fall of last year, I finally got my wish as I began my sophomore year at Massapequa High School.
With a new school year came a whole lot of new confusion. Before the first day of school came around again last fall, I became very concerned about how the year would go and wondered what the new school year would bring. I didn’t know my way around the long hallways, or which staircase was the best to use to get to a specified location, or which eatery had the best deals for lunch. In addition, I didn’t know how the upperclassmen would treat the sophomores or how much work I would get, but soon enough I knew the answers to all of these questions.
Navigating MHS: When I was younger, I was always petrified to go to high school because the school seemed dauntingly large. However, in the first week of my sophomore year, I realized the school is not as big as an outsider may think. MHS is actually easy to navigate because for the most part, each floor is set up in the same pattern.
Because there are multiple staircases in the school, choosing the right one to get to your destination can be crucial in terms of arrival time. When picking the right staircase to go up, you must take into account where your classroom is and think about which set of stairs would bring you closest to it. Another tip involving the staircases is that although the middle set may look very appealing and convenient, sometimes you are better off using one of the side sets because of how crowded the middle stairs can get.
It is also important to note that the staircases at the high school are not set up the way they are at Berner, and there are no specified staircases to go up and down, so you must always be aware of where you’re walking.
Typically, the science classrooms are in the same spot on each floor, and if any of your classrooms are numbered below 100, you can be sure to find them in the basement.
Lunch: As students at MHS, we have the privilege of having an “open campus” policy during lunch periods that allows us to exit the building and eat lunch elsewhere or eat lunch in the Cyber Cafe.
Because there are only about forty minutes during lunch, the best choice is to eat somewhere within a walking distance, like somewhere in the Southgate Shopping Center or along Merrick Road. Luckily for us, there are plenty of choices that can fit whatever you are craving — be it pizza, bagels, or Chinese food. Additionally, most places offer student deals that are only available to MHS students during school hours; expect to bring at least five dollars a day because most options hover around this amount.
When I started high school, I was nervous that I wouldn’t get back to the school in time to make it to my class. However, I realized that if you leave a few minutes early from where you’re eating, you can make it back to the school in time with minutes to spare. In terms of offers during lunch, my favorite place to eat is Crostini’s because of their great pizza, generous student deals, and staff that is always kind to the students that eat there.
I also learned that it is best to get to the place you desire to eat at quickly, because if you wait too long, you may not be able to get a table and you might have to deal with long lines.
When the weather isn’t warm and inviting, many student began to realize it isn’t always worth going out in the rain and snow, so they decided to bring lunch and go to the cafeteria instead, which is completely acceptable. Although I have never eaten in the cafeteria, there were some days I wished I did, because nobody likes to go through the rest of the school day dripping wet.
Upperclassmen: In media, it always seems that the upperclassman bully the underclassmen in high school in different locations such as the hallways and at lunch. Luckily at MHS, this doesn’t happen. As a sophomore, there are plenty of things you have to worry about, but bullying by the upperclassman shouldn’t be one of them. Typically, the juniors and seniors have other things they’re worrying about anyway, so sophomores shouldn’t be nervous or scared around them.
Also in the High School, sophomores have the chance of being placed in classes with juniors and seniors, but you shouldn’t be worried! Having students from other grades in some of your electives is a great way to meet new people because sometimes it can be a bit routine having the same kids in your classes year after year.
Workload: Although sophomore year is a year above freshman year, don’t expect a huge change in the amount of homework you receive. Sure, you will receive more work in your classes, but it isn’t anything you shouldn’t be able to handle. In my opinion, I had more homework in freshman year than I did in sophomore year, so you shouldn’t stress out about work before it even begins.
Sophomore year is also the beginning of your opportunity to challenge yourself in multiple Advanced Placement (AP) tests. While you can expect an academic challenge in these classes, advanced classes are a great decision for those who have high goals for academic success.
Looking back at my experience, I loved sophomore year — it definitely became one of my favorite grades when it wrapped up in June. As I enter my junior year, I hope I can continue to be as lucky as I was last year and enjoy it just as much. I wish all the sophomores this year good luck and hope that you all enjoy their sophomore year as much as I did.