Discussion Topic #1

[Andy Weiss]

Please share with us what you wish someone had told you about Beach High before the beginning of your freshman year.

[Laurie Kaye Davis]

Almost everyone said that they wished they had a mentor to make the transition from middle school to high school easier.

Some wished that they had someone to tell them about the "quirks" of their teachers.

Some wished that they had someone to guide them regarding AP test preparation.

I wished that I had someone to show me where my classes were before the first day of school. I remember not being able to find some of my class rooms for weeks without help...

[Vanica Guignard]

Before the beginning of my freshman wear at Beach High, I wish someone had told me about the amount of assignments that we would have to complete. Also, how difficult it would be to take on these challanges, the amount of stress that you would have on yourself, and the amount of times you would have to stay up past 11:00 PM or midnight to finish your homework.

[Nadine Goldberg]

I also would have liked to learn about the "quirks" of our teachers. It would have been tremendously helpful, for instance, to know that Ms. Klein favored pretty projects and was almost certain to give an 'A' to any student that chose to memorize and recite a poem or monologue.

[Lena Compton]

Before I started my freshman year at Beach High, I wish that someone would have told me that everything would be okay and that I would find a place because everyone does. Coming from a private school and only knowing about 2 people made the transition kind of hard but it got easier and if someone had told me that reassuringly then I probably would have been more calm about it.

[Jennifer Rye]

Before the beginning of my freshman year, I wish someone would have told me to be more active in clubs, sports, and volunteering. I would have had a head start in my community service hours and be involved with activities with my peers, in and out of school.

[Elvis Hatcher]

I wish that somebody had told me that 9th grade would be way more work than 8th grade was. It took me a while to adjust myself to actually having to do work, and it would have been rather nice to have known that I would have to make that adjustment beforehand. Also, I wish that someone had told me how important it is to read the textbook in some classes, like AP World. I didn't realize this until sometime around the 4th grading period, and having read the book the entire year would have been quite benificial.

[Lauren Peterson]

Dear Freshman,
Just a few tips before you enter the vast social and academic organization that is Miami Beach Senior High school: Try your hardest not to procrastinate. You may have the brains to get something done at the last minute but I promise you, one day it will bite you in the butt. Also, study for AP. You shouldn't cram right before a test, but if you do, be sure to go over the material slowly at least once with whatever study guide you have. You can't just hope that you know, you have to actually study for AP before you get to the test. But you also should have fun with your friends. You shouldn't reject your friends invitations to hang out constantly, but I think Freshman year is about finding your own personal balance.
Sincerely, Lauren Peterson