Katie Helzer

For many students transitioning from middle school to high school can be very difficult. But this transition can also bring lots of great things into a teens life. Most of the students at the Ninth Grade Center have made more friends, started new beginnings, and had positive changes in their life. This shows when talking to other students about how they like their new building. Playing a highschool sport can have a lot more competition and you can create amazing new bonds and memories.
A few students have shared their thoughts on this topic. Freshman De’Mari Walker speaks on his new experiences in sports.
“I prefer high school football over middle school football because there is more competition. I think I have grown more playing high school football because I’ve gotten stronger and faster and overall better at football with all my training and hard work. I am held to a higher expectation in classes to be a better student and also on the field to be a better student. I started playing football because my dad was in the NFL and my brother is the top football player for the high school so I want to follow in their footsteps and continue to look up to them,” said Walker.
A common fear of starting a new high school sport is the relationships between upper and lower classmen. Freshman Anna Eggers touches on this.
“It wasn’t difficult to transition to high school volleyball because the upperclassmen have been so welcoming and always push me to do my best. Being on JV as a freshman has really helped me with my progress of becoming a better volleyball player,” said Eggers.
The advantage from middle to high school sports is the caliber of training. In high school, it is more typical for harder practices to occur. Freshman Brylee Kents divulges into the new difficulty of her sport.
“It’s really different. They give you a lot more freedom with things in practice, learn more advanced skills, we get to cheer at the Friday night games, we get taken more seriously, and it’s more fun,” said Kents.
These are great examples of the positive impacts that transitioning to a different school and a different grade make on students. Transitions are important in a persons life for a multitude of reasons. Change may be frightening but often times it is for the better.