Hey Liam, It’s Liam.
I’m currently writing this as a 14-year-old boy who’s just starting high school. For now, that’s all you need to know. I know that while you’re reading this, school’s been scary. I know you don’t know many people, but I promise you, you will. You’ll make so many friends as long as you stick your hand out and greet them. Honestly, I wish I had that advice when I was your age. I wish I had so much advice when I was your age, but I didn’t. I’d like to give you the advice I never had for the grades that you’ll experience. Aside from that, I want to start my advice off by talking about 4th grade. First of all, I want you to try to make as many friends as you can. You’ll be with these people for another 4 years, and it’ll be best for you to get to know them while you still can. Next, make sure to participate in all of the clubs and opportunities you’re given; just make sure to be friendly and be determined. There’s not much else I can tell you regarding 4th grade, as most of my memories of it are fuzzy, but I promise my advice will get better the farther down the road we go. I’d like to talk about 5th grade next. 5th grade was an interesting experience. It’s where we’ll get to meet most of our friends and finally start learning new concepts. If I had the opportunity to rewind time and choose one grade to go back to, it’d likely be this one. It’s where everything was coming together, and I wish I did more then. Just make sure to stick in clubs and try your hardest. Next, I’ll talk about 6th grade. 6th grade is where things got important, Liam. You must do your work and honestly try your hardest. I know it will be hard, as everything will change, but this is the age and grade where your actions are finally starting to matter. In 6th grade, you must try your hardest because this is the age where you’re going to start to change for the better. 7th grade. 7th grade was a horrible experience for me, and I hope with my advice, you’ll make it better. 7th grade was an even bigger shift than 6th grade; it was a new school, with new people, and with new teachers. There were so many different types of students and teachers you had to work with, but just remember, Liam, to do your work, as it matters a bunch this year; if you don’t, you’ll be sent to an afterschool program to do it all. I know it’s getting repetitive, but do everything you can. Join clubs, join sports, join the musicals. Just do everything because I wish I did, but I didn’t. I know there was so much I could have done and so much I wish I could have done, but I didn’t. Finally, let’s talk about 8th grade. If I had any one piece of advice for 8th grade, I’d just tell you to enjoy it. I truly believe 8th grade was the happiest time of my life, as the work was easy, we got scholarships, we had so many friends, and we were better than ever. Even though 8th grade was good, I still regret not doing everything I could, but putting that aside, that’s all I have left to tell you, so I wish you the best, and I hope you’ll be greater than I ever could be.
Goodbye,
Liam.
Liam Almeralla – Marist High School – DMSF Class of 2030
Photo Credit: Liam Almeralla