Throughout my time at Pelham Middle School, I have learned many concepts. Some of these concepts will stay with me throughout life, and have taught me how to be a better student. One of the first things I learned in middle school was the importance of getting the proper amount of sleep. Sleep is essential for the ability to function, pay attention, and academically grow. Without the proper amount of sleep, one will feel tired and upset during the day, which does not set up people for success during the school day. Furthermore, lack of sleep makes it harder to complete homework after school, as one will already feel exhausted from the school day. Another essential lesson I’ve learned is to ask for help. During the start of sixth grade, school could feel overwhelming and difficult at times. This was due to the new environment and the fact that the pandemic had limited the time I was in school for fifth grade. After trial and error, I learned to ask for help from my teachers, whether it was to clarify schoolwork or ask about future events. Going to academy was also something I learned to do, as it helped me as a student and alleviated stress. Completing homework immediately was a crucial skill that middle school taught me. In elementary school, oftentimes I would put off homework. This was never an issue because at the time my schedule was not busy so I had a lot of time to complete what needed to get done. However, in middle school I started to participate in many more activities, and started to get assigned a lot more school work. So I learned that procrastination does not help, and that finishing homework right away helps my schedule feel less consuming overall. Finally, two of the most important lessons emphasized to me by Pelham Middle School were having fun, and being kind towards others. Though school can feel consuming at times, teachers were constantly stressing the need for balance. They encouraged kids to push themselves academically, but also have fun outside of school. This could be seen when teachers wouldn’t assign homework on Fridays, wanting students to enjoy the weekend. Children were also encouraged to have fun by partaking in modified sports, which is a way to partake in pleasing sporting events and socializing with friends. Being kind towards others was consistently established throughout the year, whether anti-bullying was shown through presentations, field trips, or more. Pelham stressed that if students are kind to one another, school can become a more positive experience and environment for staff and students who attend. Nextly, when students are kind to each other it makes everyone feel included which is vital for Pelham schools. Overall, being a student at Pelham Middle school has taught me many lessons that I will carry with me throughout high school and the rest of my life.