Alumni Post #2 -- Overwhelmed with the campus!

When I was entering Middle School, I was overwhelmed with the much bigger campus and two story buildings. Coming from one of the smallest Elementary Schools in our county, it was a huge change. One challenge I had, was although most everyone from my Elementary School when to my Middle School, I was not very close with them or not in any of the same classes. I had to find and make new friends. One thing I wish I knew before Middle School was somehow if you make an effort to make friends, it'll all fall into place. In no time, you'll know the campus like the back of your hand. Middle School, if  done right, can be a great time to prepare you for High School without much stress. -- Gunnar C.

Alumni Post #1 -- Time flies and you're one of the big guys!

SURVIVING MIDDLE SCHOOL!!! My name is Shelby K.! I am a Sophomore at Crystal River High School. Now hearing 'Sophomore', you're probably thinking: 'She's one of the big guys! She's in High School!' But, believe it or not, I was in your shoes, starting a brand new school, with a bunch of new people, new teachers, new environment! It seems scary the first couple weeks. But trust me when I say, 'You're going to be okay!'.  I think the hardest part of starting Middle School is everything being unfamiliar. You go from knowing everyone for 5 years at one school, and becoming so familiar with the people, the school... Enough to know it like the back of your hand! Then to now entering what seems like this big world with many other people than just your friends. I remember my first day. I was so lost, so scared, and just didn't know what to think! My biggest fear was just completely humiliating myself. But I met a lot of very nice teachers to help me throughout the day, and even the other students were very nice. After a month or so, the school seems like it shrinks. It's not as big as it was when you first started. By that time, you've also made many new friends and have become more confident. My tips for surviving Middle School are to stay focused, always be bright, get involved as much as you can, always be on top of your game. Ask teachers questions if you have any. Never be afraid to ask! Always be true to yourself. Don't let anything get in your way of what you truly want in your future career or even yourself. There will be a lot of drama but it's always safe to stay away. And just enjoy Middle School while you can because the next 3 years go by really quick and the next thing you know, you're a Sophomore in High School! -- Shelby K.

Why This Blog Was Created

The thought of starting Middle School was summed up in one word for me: Terrifying.  Towards the end of my fifth grade year, teachers began to focus on warning their classes of how 'hard' Middle School would be. How much harder classes would be, how hard it would be to get to all seven of your classes on time, how hard it would be to get to your locker and get what you needed out of it in only five minutes. Hard. And scary. And my word: Terrifying. On top of all this, at the end of my fifth grade year, the county I lived in decided to redraw its school zoning lines. And because I have horrible luck, I was now zoned for a school where none of my friends were zoned. Literally, out of a class of about 150 kids, I was the only student zoned for this Middle School. As if this transition wasn't going to be hard enough, right? Well, after several months of forging my way through this unknown territory, I picked up on the nuances of  not only surviving Middle School, but ROCKING it. This blog was created to help kids like me-- who want a resource to guide them through this transition. That is what this blog is here to do!