By Sol H. & Jinny U., Grade 9
Here is the official first post of the “Ultimate senior school Survival guide”. We, Sol H., Jinny U. have interviewed two senior school students regarding their advice for students who are unfamiliar with the senior school system.
Grade 11 Student: Vegard H.
Photo: Sol H.
Vegard H., MIS varsity Soccer team captain, 10th grade Griffin house captain, and F.C Arsenal fan is a very hard working and successful student when it comes to experience at MIS. He enjoyed Coding and Math, although he admits that it has been a struggling subject for him. Outside of school Vegard enjoys Gaming and playing soccer with his friends.
As a 10th grader and experienced senior school student, Vegard recommends pushing yourself to join extended courses and recommends the Duke of Edinburgh programme ‘I developed my skills throughout the entire school year’ for students who are new to the senior school system. As team captain of the varsity soccer team, he is happy to say that he is proud of his team and the success in matches over the last few weeks.
Senior School Advice:
Vegard is fairly new to the senior school, and he is only in 10th grade, however he has achieved a lot and can also compare it to middle school. He states that he feels that 9th grade is very important, and that new students should remember that grades are starting to count around this age ‘ninth grade can be easy compared to tenth grade’. Vegard finds that 9th grade is a preparation to 10th grade, and that the level of work and difficulty rises throughout the years. As he compares homework levels and difficulty on tests, he advises 9th grade students to focus on their personal comfort and encourages them to set a goal that they should try to achieve by the end of each year.
He feels that this can push students to achieve what is not only mandatory, but also gives motivation and personal value. Deadlines and academic honestly is graded very strictly in senior school, therefore it is important to always have a plan of recording these, and how it is possible to achieve them. As the number of tests and exams rise, this can also cause stress and keeping an organised plan is definitely some help throughout not only the year, but also throughout senior school.
Another thing Vegard recommends is for every student to always have something that they can look forward to, even if it is something small. It can be an event at the end of the year or just a birthday or celebration or a meet with a friend, but it is always important to be motivated to not only be successful in school, but also mentally, when going through teenage years. Balancing interests and hobbies with school is something that can be difficult but will definitely help throughout the school year, it is encouraged to do at least an after-school activity or club that is enjoyed and/or a sport of activity that is physical as it is necessary for your body to get enough exercise for you to be able to learn and be successful in school. Vegar finally encourages for every student to a little bit of homework every day, even if it is all completed, there is always something that can be finished or achieved to challenge you and help you achieve further goals. “Students should try to memorize most of what they did in 9th grade so that they can use that in 10th grade”, he said.
Grade 12 Student: Tess B.
Photo: Tessa B.
Tessa B., a president of the student council,12th grade student at MIS who’s been here since 3rd grade, and enjoys playing three different sports, basketball, volleyball, and softball and loves spending time with her friends. She is currently taking preparing for medical school taking Chemistry, Biology and English Literature and for standard, she is taking Math analysis, History and German. One of the highlights of her senior school life are winning the subject award (Chemistry) and being the student council president.
As a 12th grader, an expert in the senior school system, she recommends having an organized and a structured plan to help you guide throughout the school year and to join different school committees and clubs.
Tessa’s academic advice for surviving senior school
Senior school can be challenging, and Tessa describes senior school as a “big shift from middle school and describes it like a rhythm of a flow.”
In senior school, you are responsible handling yourself, and the expectations changes and becomes higher. For example, homework would not be checked by teacher every day, but having the responsibility to accomplish your assignments and returning them in the right due date should be achieved. Having individual responsibility might be unfamiliar such as strict deadlines but being in charge of your own process of your academic work, she advises to take senior school seriously and to get used to the rhythm of senior school system.
One of her most important advice is when getting used to the senior school system, she advises us to look through the Criteria in depth before taking an assessment and to try your best on your formative assessments so you can get appropriate feedback to improve your work. She also encourages us to join after school activities to cope with stress and to meet new people, travel and to step back for an hour from the amount of workload given.
Tessa’s general key tips for students
How to handle and prioritize the amount of workload?
She suggests writing your assignments down on a calendar or a planner and see if you can turn it in till the deadline, if not emailing a teacher beforehand to have an extension is possible to manage.
How to make new friends?
Making new friends can be frustrating for new students but joining clubs and afterschool activities can
Tessa have learned multiple important lessons throughout senior school such as how to successfully manage her work, to have fun with friends and to balance her personal life.
“When you are adjusted in the rhythm of senior school, you enjoy senior school,” she said.