When I went to Ames, one of my teachers told my class that the main campus would be a culture shock. At first, I thought he was wrong. The only immediate changes you may notice at the main campus are the couples kissing in the hallways and the crowd of smokers outside the bagel shop. But eventually, the archetypal cultural events of high school will transform you into an adult. The question is: how will you come out the other end?
The change you’re about to go through will not be a shock—it’s moreso a process of erosion. As the sands of time abrade your character, you will be at risk for total transformation. This is how some kids end up unsuccessful. You may not even realize it, but every day here will test the security of your perspective. And yet, there’s a way to remain focused.
You must find your anchor. Find the one positive thing in your life that you can always go back to when your world gets crazy. For me, it was simply school. I just tried to make the best out of my experience at the high school. Whenever I felt lost, overwhelmed, or inadequate I could turn back to my anchor and put it all into perspective. No matter what else went wrong, school was a community for me where I felt respected and successful. It has been the one positive that no one could take away from me throughout the years.
Not everyone can be great at everything, but everyone can be great at something. I urge you to find that something. Maybe it’s music, a sport, working out, art, or maybe it’s not something you have to do well at all. It could just be a common recluse from the goings-on of daily life. One major anti-stress agent for me has been listening to music. Just find some form of positivity you can always go back to.
A good way to find your go-to hobby is to get involved in clubs around the high school. Most clubs are very eager to accept new members, so don’t hesitate to look into something that you think might interest you. Clubs can lead to great friendships, fulfilling work, and a much-improved college application. They are usually an all-around positive experience.
Another key to surviving the storm of change is to consciously balance the new ideas to which you are exposed with the old values you learned at home. A great deal of high school students just want to have fun. They like to party, experiment, and test out the parameters of the adolescent social scene. High school is actually a great time to meet new people and try new things, but proceed with caution.
High school is also the time to stop babying yourself, and stop expecting others to tip-toe around your feelings. As you walk through the halls here, you will walk farther down the path from childhood to adulthood, and if you want to experience the fun aspects of a more mature life, you will also need to accept greater responsibility and accountability.
From your teachers, you will largely find less sympathy for missed homework and unpreparedness. Though it certainly depends on the teacher, and some teachers you have here may be the most sympathetic yet, many do acknowledge your age and expect you to live up to the standards of adult students. That’s how it should be, especially since high school is just a stepping stone on the path to college for most kids these days, and college professors certainly do not care if you did not prepare yourself for a test.
Some of you may find it more pertinent to know that your friends will gradually start expecting more of you as well. That’s a normal part of growing up. Your friends will only look after you so many times at a party. They will tolerate only a certain number of excuses and apologies. As life gets busier and more stressful, many people are less inclined to go out of their way for you over and over again.
And while we are on the subject of what people will not tolerate—do not post your entire social life on Facebook and Twitter. Social networks are not forums to publicize either irresponsible behavior or your latest complaints about your ex-boyfriend. An obsession with Twitter is a fast-track to social disapproval. Also, whoever you insult online will find out, and with all the changes I already mentioned, do you want to be dealing with Twitter wars too?
That is an introduction to high school in a nutshell. Get involved in as much as you can, and try to find your passion. Stay true to your friends and values. Try to keep others in mind, because if you don’t, they may not stick around. Try your best in the classroom and out, and expect nothing less of yourself than the best you can give. And keep the social networking exposure to a minimum, because if you don’t, the whole school will hear about it.
– Joe Zappa
Editor-in-Chief