Hello! My name is Annabelle Celanti-Smith and I and an 8th-grade student here at Pelham Middle School. I am aware that my experience as a middle school student was much different compared to yours due to the pandemic. Despite this, I have some advice for 6th and 7th graders. 

Do your homework.

I know that sometimes it is hard to get all of your homework done in one night. You may have after-school activities or not understand something about the homework or maybe you’re just someone who works slowly. This is why I highly encourage you to take advantage of after-school academy and study halls. Do your best to get some of it done during the school day so that you don’t have to spend so much time on it at home. There may be some days when you think that homework is pointless. I assure you that all of the teachers give you homework for a reason. They may be preparing you for the next day or making sure you understand what you worked on that day. Doing your homework is very important. It helps you stay on top of things and fully understand the concepts that you learned. 

Ask for help. 

It can be hard to ask for help. But what is even harder is dealing with something you know you can’t deal with yourself. You can’t always figure things out on your own. That’s not the way to learn. Academy is a great place to ask for help with things like homework and projects. For other school-related issues, your guidance counselor is a great resource. For relationship problems go to a student assistance counselor. Sharon and Ms. LaDisa are great people to talk to. (If you don’t know where to find them ask your guidance counselor!). If you are not at school and you need help, ask friends or family members. Just make sure you ask for help when you need it because you become stressed out and that will make it harder for you to get things done. 

Get your sleep. 

Getting a good night’s sleep is very important. Without it, you will be tired and moody during the day. Not only this but, it will be harder for you to focus during the day. This might make it harder to do your homework after school and result in you staying up late. It can be difficult to get to bed early because of homework, activities, etc., but make sure your not up past 10:30-11, especially if you have to wake up early in the morning.

Socialize (in a positive way)

When I say this, I don’t mean to be friends with everyone in the school. You are more than welcome to do so, but I find it hard to keep healthy and strong relationships this way. Having 2-3 friends you can rely on is all you really need. Be nice to people. There is no need to be rude to someone. If you are someone who is being treated rudely, go to Sharon or Ms. LaDisa. 

Have Fun!

You should never let anything stop you from having fun. Don’t stress too much about things. I find that sometimes teachers may exaggerate things. They do this to make sure that you are actually putting in an effort. As long as you do that, you will be good for the school year. (Disclaimer, everyone is different. This may not apply to you. If you feel you need to work on something more, go to academy.) Hang out with your friends and relax on weekends. You deserve it after a long day of school! 

If you have any questions or concerns, comment or contact me!