Moving up: Transitioning from Middle School to High School

Our hosts discuss the realities of going from middle school to high school, and chat with a new ninth grader about what she has to look forward to in high school. 

Transcript

Brianna 
Welcome to the Giving Youth A Voice Podcast, where we share information to youth by youth. Stick around to hear what we've chosen to share with you in this episode. Check out more information and resources about the Neshaminy Coalition for Youth at our website, nc4youth. org. That's nc #4youth. org. There you can find our program and resources and become a member for the betterment of our community. Also, check out our Facebook page to see our latest news and events. Give us a like. I'm Brianna, the host of this episode. And please enjoy. 

The transition from middle school to high school and high school to college is a scary thought that you only really just think about until you actually get to transition up. I think it's just the idea of giving insight as to what transitioning from middle school to high school and high school to college is actually like so it can give the truthful insight into just the realistic of it instead of this scary idea that so many people go into high school and college having. 

Patrick 
Yeah, so it's basically the same, almost the same feeling I had when going into high school after finishing middle school. Except this time, I feel like it's at a much larger scale. You're taking that into perspective. I was in middle school for four years at that point. I was about to enter high school, which it was like a completely different setting. It feels like I'm taking like a big step into the next phase of life. And while some of it is scary at first glance, I'm trying to look forward to the positives and say, "This is how I'm going to learn more about myself, challenge myself and see what I want to do." There and also after that. 

Brianna 
In addition to what Patrick said with the idea of how we did do the middle school to high school transition and during that time, COVID hit for us in seventh grade and then in eighth grade. We were in this hybrid model. When we got to high school, we had to wear masks for a little bit. And this was also time where we were meeting people from two other districts. So we weren't able to see the people, the new faces for a little bit. And the thing with high school to college is it's very different from, well, I don't want to say very different, but in a way it is very different from middle school to high school because the difference is in middle school to high school, you're still going to be generally with the same people. You're just entering a bigger space and adding people from other schools. 

Eric 
Hi, everyone. My name is Eric and I am a senior at Neshaminy High School. And something that Brianna and Patrick said was about the transition to middle school to high school and me being a senior in high school, I have done that. And the teachers, they really hype it up. Like it's a big scary school, but it's really not that bad. The main thing that I was really worried about was the combination of the middle schools. When you're in middle school and elementary school, a lot of these people you've known your whole life, like almost your whole life since kindergarten. And going into such a large setting of a high school was a big, big change. There's a lot of new people you meet. And whether or not you bond with these people and make connections with these people is up to you. And you can really make the most out of it. 

Brianna 
I will say I don't think teachers are always the best with helping with that because sometimes they can put a much scarier thought in your head of how strict it's going to be and how different it's going to be. And then you go and yes, it's different, but it's not as scary as like my middle school teachers had claimed high school would be. 

Eric 
Yeah, I would say my transition to high school actually went very well. I feel like if you attack the subject with an optimistic attitude, you really can make the most of what you're going into. I think the best way to look at it is yes, you're going to meet a lot of new people. And if that's not something you're into, then really you don't have to. You can stay towards yourself. You can meet people, you can just take advantage of everything that the high school has to offer. There's many clubs to meet new people. And if that's not what you're into, then that's perfectly fine. There's many great teachers. There's a lot of teachers at the Neshaminy High School. And there's people that will want to help you. There's a great counseling meeting. And overall the people are there to help you. 

Adriana 
So I'm Adriana. I am transitioning from eighth grade to ninth grade. I recently graduated from Poquessing Middle School and going to the Neshaminy High School. 

Brianna 
I went through what she went through a transitioning from eighth to ninth from Poquessing. When I transitioned, I was a little nervous about the increase of people like how Eric talked about earlier. I know Neshaminy as a whole has a population of almost 3,000, which is wildly different from the Poquessing. That's something that I was nervous about because I could be in a class with a couple of my friends in one and the next I could know not a single person. They could all be from different middle schools. My advice for Adriana is it may seem a little scary at first to be surrounded by a bunch of people that you've never seen before. But I have genuinely met some of my bestest friends by getting the experience to be exposed from people from other middle schools. And have met people who I truly consider will be lifelong friends and influential people in my life. It is scary, but the thing to keep in mind is all these people who may be feeling scared about all the new people in the big school. They're all in the exact same boat as you. They're all going through exactly what you're going through. So it can sometimes be easier to feel a little bit more welcome in a room your freshman year because you're all going through the same thing together. And you will for the next four years. Although the fears might creep in take advantage of the rooms of people that you'll get to know over the next few years. 

Eric 
Yeah, I definitely a good Brianna what she's saying here because like she said, there's thousands of students in these new high schools. And it can be very overwhelming. But you have to consider that there was thousands of people that you're being able to meet is a great opportunity. There's many people with different beliefs, different hobbies, different everything, honestly, there's people that play sports as people that are interested in different clubs and it allows for a mix of people that you can bond with and meet and become friends with over the years. 

Brianna 
Yeah, and obviously you can take some of your classes that are designed towards what you're interested in like I took a drama class for the past four years. Or just taking different classes where you can meet people who share those similar interests and I know I mentioned like the almost 3000 class size. But even just in your class alone, like I know my class, they were telling us that just all the 2025 graduates were one of the biggest classes they had with almost 760 some people just in our class, all the people in the same grade alone. So there's a lot of people even just in your own grade who you can meet and connect with along with people in other grades with the different classes you're interested in and the things you're passionate about. 

Adriana 
Yeah, I totally agree with that. I really appreciate that advice. 

Brianna 
I know I've talked a lot about how it's not as scary as it seems and how there are a lot of people that you're going to meet. But there is also like real talk aspect of it. You are going to be scared at first, especially someone who has helped out with freshman orientation and freshman first day last year being a part of student council. I was there on both of those days. It's a variety of a group of people like there's the kids who are more scared than others, which there's no problem with that at all. And there's the kids who are going to seem over confident and act like they are completely unfazed about being in a new school. But the real talk aspect of it is at first you are going to be possibly scared and a little nervous. My biggest advice to not just Adriana but anyone who hears this in any school that you go to is take advantage of the help that you are being given our counseling department is incredible. And I would hope other schools counseling departments are pretty good too. I know that all the guidance counselors meet with you within the first few weeks and ask you questions and get to know like how you're feeling about settling into Neshaminy or I think most schools. The freshman orientation you really get that first chance of you can get your schedule and you can go through what your day will look like you can go from class to class. So it prevents you from getting lost so much because I know high schools are usually a bit bigger than middle schools are so it gives you that opportunity to walk through your day and figure out what your day is going to look like for the next year and figure out where things are. And you're not alone in that so it is going to be scary for some people and it may seem a little nerve wrecking and that's completely OK to feel most people are going to feel that way and there's no shame or any issues with feeling that way. You just have to do what's best for you and figure out what can you do to make yourself feel more comfortable in a new environment. 

Eric 
I think something I would also like to add is an elementary school I remember a time where my teachers would tell me what class I am class of 2026. Now I'm now a senior and back then I think oh 2026 is never going to come and now it's next year. It's crazy to think about feels like last week I was at the lunch table with my friends and freshman year laughing about nonsense and now people with figuring out how does they want to go to what careers they want to go to. So really the time does fly by fast and when people say that they're not just messing around making jokes just trying to give you advice they mean it seriously and it's really important is take advantage living the moment be ready for what's coming next 

Brianna 
Agreed a hundred percent as somebody who just graduated I was like what do you mean I'm just a freshman like freshman year wasn't that long ago. But it truly like Eric said it truly is so important to take the four years in and make those friendship makes those connections do the things you want to do take the classes you want to take. Join those clubs do those sports do the musical do do whatever it's important that you take in every moment of those next four years. I can assure you it is going to fly by because I'm still in denial that I graduated. So the time does fly and you got to take it all in. So Adriana I know that we talked about how we felt when we transitioned from the middle school to the high school and the things that we were told that made it a little bit more scary. How are you feeling about soon starting your transition from middle school to high school and the things that you were told 

Adriana 
I definitely think that it's crazy as well. You feel like your denial Graduation in high school I feel like I'm still in fifth grade. It was crazy how time flew by and I was intimidated by first I was told that odds of you being in the same classes your friends are going to be really low. But i'm involved in the music program so I had the chance of meeting some other people so in a sense I'm comfortable but I still know that I still need to like push myself out of a comfort zone that's not only academically but verbally so that I can meet with new people. 

Brianna 
Yeah I agree especially when you're involved in programs like that sometimes you get a glimpse into meeting people from those programs in other schools it definitely gives an insight into some of the new people that you're going to meet. On top of all of this I think honestly the most important thing on top of working through the fears and going through the transitions is just be yourself. I know that it's going to be scary being an environment with new people that you've never met, but stay true to yourself be the person you are don't water yourself down for anybody just stay true to who you are. 

Patrick 
All right well thank you so much for this conversation for this podcast about grade transitioning it was an educational and very helpful conversation that I think most of us can take with us and apply it to later down the line and we really appreciate that so thank you. 

Brianna 
And thank you as well to Adriana and Eric for joining us today and giving your insight into our transition podcast. I was hoping that talking about it would help people who are going through it themselves so I'm hoping it puts a little bit of ease on people shoulders and help some transition a little bit more smoothly to whether middle school or high school or high school to college. 

Adriana 
Thank you. 

Brianna 
That's it for this episode thank you for listening to giving youth a voice. Any questions about this podcast or coalition can be emailed to podcasts at nc4youth. org, that's podcast at nc4youth. org. Make sure to follow us on your favorite podcasting app and sign up to our email list on nc4youth. org so you don't miss our next episode. This project is made possible by funding from the drug free communities grant. I'm Brianna wishing you a happy and healthy future. see you next episode.