Transitioning from middle school to high school isn’t always easy. Everybody has their own reasons for struggling. We asked Mrs. Reilly, our guidance counselor, about how she helps kids get through this major life change and she gave us some inspiring words for anyone who needs help.
While speaking with Mrs. Reilly, we learned a little about her life and how she became a school counselor. Mrs.Reilly has been our school’s guidance counselor for a long time and she loves her job. Before guidance counseling, Mrs. Reilly was a clinical counselor then switched to guidance counseling in school and loved it ever since. She says, “I love working with people, and I have enjoyed all of my experiences in counseling.”
She highlights, “If you are ever struggling don’t be afraid, find a trusted adult and talk to them, because you are not alone and we are here to watch you be successful.”
The biggest issue that freshmen seem to struggle with is the design of their new high school when starting, especially when coming from a smaller middle school where classes can be all in the same hall to a huge high school like Worcester Tech, where they have to go from “A” building to a class in “D” building. Freshmen are not used to rushing from class to class. In middle school, although they were able to transition by themselves, their classes still often happened to be right next to each other, and they didn’t have multiple buildings in middle school. Some believe that they were not really prepared for the transition and it’s not their fault. Some students adjust better than others, depending on the students and which school they come from.
Most students don’t have a problem with the whole A-Week Z-Week schedule rotation, it is rather the increase of work and their various due dates that they struggle with. Even though all teachers offer their students the opportunity to stay after school for help, and even offer extra credit, many students still don’t take advantage of it.
Academics can be hard, but homework still needs to get done and teachers are there to help. Some kids prefer working in groups, with partners, or simply independently, but each working style will not always be an option. Some projects are independent and some aren’t, but tecahers will always be available to help support students.
Mrs. Reilly reminds freshmen to “Keep an open mind, think ahead, and use all your resources” when they start to feel stressed. She is located in the Workforce Development Office on the first floor of B building, and is happy to help any freshman that needs assistance or any help adjusting to high school.