Author Archives: Emma G.

Learning a New Language

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Learning a new language can be very beneficial, but it can also be one of the most challenging endeavors. When I had to fulfill my high school graduation requirements by taking Spanish this summer, it was quite tough. I decided to take my Spanish class at my local community college because my school offers dual enrollment for the summer. I could provide more details about this whole experience, but that would take a long time.

Honestly, it was worth it because now I got it out of the way, but I was so bad at all of it that I had to contact a lot of my Spanish-speaking friends to help me. It was a difficult couple of weeks, I will admit.

Writing about that experience also helped me get introduced to the fact that learning a new language so late in life is very difficult, I mean usually when we get good at something, most of us start off young. An example would be that I have been dancing since I was a kid, I practiced a lot and went to classes but at the same time, I honed that and now I can confidently say that I can dance.

Speaking another language is a similar concept. I must admit, people my age who know more than just one language are impressive! But then I remember that it’s never too late to learn something new. I know that if I truly try hard enough, I can fully learn another language. All I need is the right mindset and the proper resources.

Next Year Jitters

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Whether you’re going into high school, Junior year, or Senior year, then obviously it’s going to be scary. As a sophomore who is going into Junior year, there are so many nerves that are just happening all at once. Especially now that you have to try harder in your academics for potential colleges and careers. One thing I’m glad I know though is that I’m not going through this whole feeling alone, so it gives me that sense of comfort. I asked a lot of my friends these questions about what they’re going to be doing for their classes next year and every response I get makes it seem like they have it all figured out, which I have to admit, I’m a bit jealous of.

It’s not that I know what I’m walking into next year in terms of academic courses, but it also runs down to the fact of how I’m going to handle it. One thing I tend to notice about myself is that I don’t know how to handle pressure, which is a skill I desperately need to work on, but at the same time, how does that benefit me for next year? Because I know that this year (or whatever grade you’re in now) determines a good portion of your life. I know everyone has their way of coping with certain situations, but there would also be a lot of doubt when I feel the walls closing in. Maybe it’s because of fight or flight reaction..?

I know a lot of schools right now are getting out for the summer right now, but thinking about next year kind of makes you think in a new light. How everything in your school career has gone into this very moment of now. Moving into the next grade and all that good stuff, embracing new and old peers, learning new subjects, it all seems a bit surreal. I could probably just be ranting here but the whole moving up to another level of school is very dawning, it just occurred to me that I’m entering junior year next year and mentally, I am not ready in the slightest.

But, I also think about the new things I will be enduring too, because high school is an experience that you can experiment with both the good and the bad at the same time, so it gives that good reflection too! I would say I’ve enjoyed these past two years so far, and it’s also nice to know that I’m in the same boat with a lot of people too. It’s sad but true, school does get harder as you go, but the only way we can actually persevere through the trials and tribulations is just to dive in head first and put in the work to make it all worth it.