Adjusting to a New Environment
By Luisa Valdez, High School of American Studies Class of 2022
Coming into a specialized high school, I felt out of place in all possible ways imaginable, especially since I had little to no contact with non-people of colors prior to being admitted. The limited interaction I did have made me feel very different from non-pocs. I also got into the High School of American Studies through the Discovery Program, which made me feel like less than everyone else. I recognized that I was of the few people of color, which made me uncomfortable.
At HSAS, everyone is very competitive about grades, and even though I tried to not let it get to me, it did. Getting a 90 on a test was not enough for me, I felt the need to do better than most people in classes because I believed that was the only way I could be enough for the school. I would spend every afternoon during the school week doing homework and studying for long hours. I was always busy, so I stopped spending time with my friends and family members. After my first finals, I was ready to transfer out of HSAS to a “normal” high school because the pressure was becoming too much for me both physically and mentally. But thankfully, I had a good friend group that supported me and helped me.That’s when I realized that doing perfectly in school was not my personal priority, but rather it’s what I thought I needed to do to be worthy of attending HSAS. I also felt great pressure from my parents because I felt they weren’t proud of me. However, my parents were already proud and I had failed to see that beforehand. And so, I began to value both my sleep and my time with my loved ones. Now, this doesn’t mean that I stopped caring about school entirely, but I realized that if I’m not mentally and emotionally healthy, it’s impossible to do well in school. I also followed a schedule to keep myself organized. I would try to do all my homework by 8 pm and go to sleep by 9:30. This, in turn, ensured that I didn’t procrastinate and that I got enough sleep. I also changed my studying habits andQuizlet became my best friend.
Here are my tips for you:
Believe in yourself. You are more than just a grade on a piece of paper”
Try to focus more on the similarities between you and the people around you.
Talk to new people even if you’re a little scared or shy. You don’t have to be friends with them, but getting to know more people will make you feel much more comfortable in a new environment.
School and grades are important, but so is socializing and bettering your mental health. Try to balance your social life and the time you spend in school. This doesn’t mean that you should go out every day knowing you have a lot of work to do, but make time in your week to spend with your family and friends.
Get enough sleep!!!! I know so many people who are sleep deprived because of school and the workload. It’s not healthy nor is it cool. Try to get at least 7 hours of sleep, it’ll help your mind function better in school.
Thank you for reading this and I hope it helps!
