Attendance

“School is boring, I have more important things to do.”
That’s how it usually starts, “school isn’t where i want to be,” but the outcome is almost always the same. In the end a phrase that you are likely to hear is “I wish that…” Why? Is it because a goal goes unaccomplished? Yes, but not necessarily. I know plenty of people who are succesful who cut class but at the end of the day they wish that they did not cut school freshman or sophomore year because they would have been that much more successful. The idea entering high school is, “oh my freshman year doesn’t really matter, what colleges will look at is my senior year.” Well, I’ll have you know you have to submit your full transcript to colleges. Your transcript contains a record of all four years of your high school career. So when you think that your presence in school is not essential keep this fact in mind. It is essential.

The 2011 G2G Contest

It was the contest of the year. You didn’t hear about it? The Good 2 Go Contest with the big money prizes? The contest had people from all over the city trying to get involved. I wrote a story about what it means to be G2G and I came in 4th place. I was a little disappointed but next year I have another chance to get one of the prizes. The prizes were 1,000 for 1st place, 500 for 2nd place and 250 for 3rd place. I was so hyped about the prizes I started as soon as I heard about it. The contest had four different ways to win. You could write a story about what it means to be G2G, you could draw a picture, painting or piece of artwork that has some connection to being G2G, you could make a video about being G2G or write and perform a song about being G2G. The contest is only a few months long so once you hear about it don’t waste time!

Taking Regents for the first time

Once classes ended for us on July 14, 2010, the fact that I would have Regents hit me really hard. Math and Science are my worst subjects, and Algebra and Living Environment are forms of math and science. The fear was floating in my stomach. Since Living Environment was first, I decided to review on Tuesday and Wednesday morning. It helped me refresh my memory quite a bit, but I still barely passed with a 72. Luckily, my teacher curved it to an 85 so my grade in her class remained a 90. With Algebra I wasn’t so lucky. She assigned a project that was due Friday, so I did not have much time to review and a lot of what was on the test we had not learned or only reviewed it for a short period. I barely passed with a 66. I am still going to retake it on August 18 because, even though it’s passing, I feel I could do better than a 66. That dropped my grade in algebra class to a 77. I am not happy about this year’s Regents and I hope I am more equipped to take next year’s Regents.

Ilia, Young Women’s Leadership School

First year of high school

My first year of  high school was good but nerve wracking. It was also a lot of  hard work, thinking, and a lot of tests. Plus my social life was  kind of scary. Why I say this is because I had to choose who are my real friends and who are not. I had to know who was bringing me up instead of bringing me down to negativity. To me we are being prepared for the college life. The teachers talk about college and the work all the time. They teach us responsibility and techniques on how college is going to be like. They also push us to high expectations and better choices in schooling and in life. But I also need to step up my game too. I need to step up my game on time and responsibility. I need to focus on my time and school work. Also I need to step my game up on  how I manage my friends with my work. Push myself to make sure I try my hardest on my tests and homework. I also need to step up my game on my attitude to a positive and not to a negative mood/attitude.

– Natifiah, FDNY High School

RU G2G for 10th grade?

Upon reflection of my first year of high school, I believe I’m good to go to the tenth grade because I’m passing all  of my classes and I have all of my credits. It was not easy but I stuck to it knowing that I wanted to be G2G for college. I’m also learning that being G2G does not mean getting and accepting 65 for passing; that grade will barely get me into a Junior College and I really want to go to a four year college. Since I am already passing my classes, I now need to focus on passing my Math and Science Regents in June. I know that what I achieved in the 9th grade, I can do much better in the 10th grade. I just need to keep focused like I am in the ninth grade. But I’m not worried next year because I believe that I will achieve and get out of high school in no time. Even though I didn’t take the Regents yet, I’m almost  sure that I will pass because  I study so that the work can stay fresh in my memory. For these reasons I believe I’M G2G TO THE 10TH  GRADE and getting G2G for college.

– Brian, FDNY High School

What colleges want

There is a lot on you as a 9th grader with just being G2G for college, such as good grades, credits, and passing the Regents. Colleges really look for 75 or better in all your classes. Right now I have an 80 G.P.A. and that’s really good for a freshman. I could have gotten higher but I started talking in my classes but now I’m on track. The reason why I say that is because you need 44 credits to get out of high school and I already got 7 in my first semester and I’m on track to get 7 or 8 more credits. There are 8 Regents you need to take in high school. Colleges look for you to pass at least 5 or more but it has to be a 75 grade or better. So far I have not taken any Regents yet. But this year I will be taking Algebra 1 and Living Environment 1 and looking forward to passing both with a 75 or better.

– Justin, FDNY High School

Going to 10th grade

It is finally the end of ninth grade and I feel that I am doing well  in my classes and I’m getting good grades. I am currently holding an 80 average and I am playing on my high school baseball team. I need to keep at least a 75 average to stay on the team; that is one of the reasons I try to keep a high average.

I met a lot of new people this year and a new group of mean teachers but I overcame their meanness to do as well as I could in my classes. I feel that all the work I did this year doesn’t even come close to the amount of work I am going to do next year but I think that I will be able to work harder and study more to get better grades and get as many credits and Regents as I need to pass high school. I need 44 credits and 5 Regents to pass high school.

I hope that next year I have the same classes as my friends because I don’t want to be a stranger the first day of school. Overall I am happy that I won’t have the same teachers as this year.

– Dustin, FDNY High School

College ahead

Hmm, I think about what my future will be like, and I can’t believe that in 3 more years I’m going to college. Time goes by so fast, and you don’t even realize it. I remember how I was in 6th grade saying I had a long time until I went to college. Now things are different and I need to start thinking about my future. I have to focus on doing good in school. So far, I think I’m doing great, and if I want to improve more, I need to put more effort in my work. I don’t really have an excuse to do bad and if I do, it’s only because I’m slacking. I really appreciate all the help and support my parents are giving me. They support me in what I do and if they see me struggling with a problem they help me overcome it. I have to start becoming independent and make my own decisions. Mom and Dad are not always going to be there for me. I need to start planning ahead and think of what career I would like to have. There’s so many choices to choose from, but I really need to be happy with the one I choose. There’s many things that need to be done before going to college, but there’s just not enough time. I just hope I’m well prepared when I need to go to college.

– Sandra C., Young Women’s Leadership School

High school transition

One way ninth grade is different from eighth grade is the metal detectors in the morning. The first day I came to the school my reaction to these scanners was, “Does this school think we’re in a prison?” But then they explained the reason for it, and then I understood. Another way ninth grade is different is the teachers are more down to earth with the students. For example they talk to us with respect, as if we were in the real world like adults. Say a student is missing work and the teacher tells him/her that they’re missing it, they don’t do it the teacher leaves them. They give you more freedom. They’re not on top of you 24/7 like in middle school. High school is like a preparation for college, by the way the teachers treat you. The work is a little harder but it’s only hard because they want you to put detail and express yourself and to become open. Unlike middle school, you get homework almost every night. But within an hour and a half you’ll be done. In middle school I remember coming out of school at 2:00pm, now as a freshmen I get out at 3:00pm. I like high school better than middle school because there are more experiences and you don’t have everybody on top of you. And I know I will like college even better.

– Brian, FDNY High School

Merit roll

Two weeks ago my high school gave out awards for attendance and passing all your classes. I received an award for passing all my classes and got on the merit roll for having an 80 average. I knew that I passed all my classes but what I didn’t expect was to get on the merit roll. Getting on the merit roll was very exciting for me. I felt like I achieved something that I worked very hard for. My mom and family are very proud of me and they told me to keep up the good work.

– Parris, FDNY High School