by Amelia Johnson (8th grade)
As the year comes to an end, another round of eighth graders leaves CMS to enter a new chapter of higher education. Being an eighth grader myself, I look back at my three years at this school to see all the ways we have grown and transitioned from Zoom to the old CMS, and finally to our current building.
While reflecting on my time here I realized that out of my three years in this school eighth grade had the largest impact. Not only because it was the only “normal” year, but because of the preparation.
Every year teachers say, “I’m preparing you for next year” while they do, but this year it really helps. I started the year off afraid for the school year to end and to start high school, but as the year progressed I felt more prepared. Now at the tail end of the year, I feel completely confident in myself and what the future holds in high school.
The teachers may be strict and seem mean, but, in the end, they are making the large leap to high school seem smaller.
8th-grade science teacher Mr. Trigone constantly reminds students, “There is no eighth grade. Only the transition from seventh to ninth grade.”
In essence, this is very accurate. The majority of eighth grade is preparation.
Preparation for the increased difficulty and pressure of high school.
8th grade English teacher Mr. Rothstein stated, “My job is to teach students skills that will help them in high school. It just so happens that they are related to reading and writing.”
The skills taught become more advanced as you enter higher grades, and when you finally master that skill you feel like a more mature and confident student.
During middle school you grow a ton. You grow academically, socially, and emotionally. Your sixth-grade self may seem like a totally different person to you when you leave the building.
The staff at this school has a big part in your personal development. They don’t always get recognized, or the students don’t realize the impact on their lives. To end my final article, I would like to thank all of the staff at CMS for making my time here at the middle school the best it could be!