Dear underclassmen,
As my time at Carroll comes to an end, there is some advice that I would like to share. This advice that I am sharing with you, I feel, has really helped me to not only get by in Carroll but excel in a way. For starters, I have been at Carroll for all four years, and I played sports as well. I’ve participated in clubs and school activities, and I think that they are totally worth it. When I was a freshman, I was in mostly CP classes, and now I am in mostly honors. I’ve been able to maintain 1st and 2nd honors, and although at times it was hard, it was very worth it. I have a very good social life; I hang out with my friends on the weekends and even some weeknights. High school goes by so fast, and you should take advantage of all of the opportunities that you have. So now that I have given you a little rundown, I would like to give you my advice or tips that I have used while being a student at Carroll.
My first tip or piece of advice that I would like to give you is to get your work done. Getting your work done in the moment may be hard, but the outcome is very rewarding. When you get your work done, the first obvious reason why it’s worth it is the grades. You want to make yourself and your parents proud of your good grades. The second reason is college. No matter what stage you are in, colleges look at how you have improved throughout the years, and your grades help you when applying to colleges. The third reason is integrity and respect. When you have a good reputation with teachers for having good work and having it in on time, it really pays off. For example, if you need an extension or extra help, the teachers may be more willing to help you because you do your work on time and do it well. The fourth reason is that it’s easy. The absolute hardest part of the work that you do is pushing yourself to do it. You will find that when you don’t do your work or don’t do quality work, it will do you more harm than good. It’s better to take your time, focus, and ask for help rather than rush through something, do it poorly, and get it wrong. All of this to say, while attending Carroll, I’ve done these things, and my life has honestly been so much easier and made my experience a very good one.
The second tip that I would like to give is about friendships. Friendships are very complicated but very important. Through your high school years, you want to find people who relate to you, who have the same goals and ambitions as you, want the best for you, and want to do the same things as you. These are all qualities that you want to have in friendships, and having these will help your friendships last and be good ones. One of the most important qualities that I feel I should have focused more on was finding friends who wanted to do the same things as me. The friends that I do have are great, but they aren’t always my first choice when it comes to doing something. There is nothing wrong with that, but being able to have more and more experiences with your friends from school and outside of school will make school more enjoyable. Finally, don’t count someone out just because they aren’t popular. In the end, what matters is their personality, not their looks or their status.
The third tip that I would like to share is to participate in school events and activities. These events and activities are fun when you participate in them. They help you meet new people and also hang out with your friends. Whether it’s joining a club, participating in events like thon, or joining a sports team, these all will help you make the most of your high school experience.
The fourth and final tip that I would like to share is to have respect and be kind to everyone. Having respect and being kind to faculty, staff, and other students cost nothing. When you give these things to other people, you will get them in return. The only thing that you earn, if anything, from being mean to someone is another person who does not like you. When you graduate, you want to be a person who people can say more positive things about than negative things. The view that other people have of you does matter, and you may need help from those people one day. I’m not saying that you have to be the most positive person ever, but try to not let your negative emotions show or get in the way of your feelings, especially when talking to someone. Being kind to someone and doing good deeds can make someone’s day, and it also makes you a better person.
These tips are all ones that I have used to survive and excel at Carroll. I hope that you can use these to your advantage and adjust them to your experience at Carroll. Overall, through all of the hardships that I have had at Carroll, I don’t think that I would have chosen another school. So, what do you take from this? Get your work done on time and make sure that it is quality work; find friends who are caring, willing, and have the same interests as you; participate in school activities and events; be kind; and have respect for others. Finally, always be your own biggest fan, push yourself to do better, and never count yourself out.
Sincerely, Jayanna Ramsey-Williams
