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BlogsViewpoints

Dear eighth graders

February 2, 2016
Dear eighth graders
Senior Ella Sams gets real with rising freshman about the reality of high school. Cartoon by Ella Sams, colored by Ashley Lawrence.
By ELLA SAMS – Print Visuals Coordinator

High school is probably not going to be what you’re expecting. Let me save you the trouble.

OK, so let’s get some things straight.

“High School Musical” is the Wikipedia of ways to get your information on what high school is going to be like.

No one is going to randomly stand up on their desk and serenade you, you won’t have nearly that much time in between your classes, lunch will probably disappoint you and let me know if you get a job working at a multi-million dollar country club. And anyways, my information is quality.

After all, I’m about the same height as y’all.

So before you step into high school prepared for things like being shoved into a locker, you should know, that’ll never happen.
We don’t have lockers.

Oh, and another thing. You’re being lied to if you’re told high school goes by fast. No. It doesn’t. I feel like I’ve been here since Hillary Clinton wrote the Constitution.

Wait, that’s not right… I guess it really has been awhile since AP Government.

Yeah, and unlike in the movies, where the actors are all 30, you are going to look nine. Yep, just fresh out of the womb. That’s why they call you guys freshmen.

But it’s okay, because odds are, the seniors will still look nine too. Well, except for the ones with full-grown beards who always looked like they should be picking their kids up from soccer practice instead of writing their name and date in MLA Format in the left hand corner of their paper.

And like I said, there is no random synchronized singing and choreography. Instead we do this cool thing in the halls where everybody talks at once and can’t seem to move down the hall slow enough, making everyone late to their classes.
But if you do see a group of people singing at the top of their lungs and dancing in sync, don’t get freaked out. It’s called a pep rally. And those people are called teachers.

So, if you go into high school prepared to just go with whatever it throws at you, I promise, you’ll have fun in the process.
Maybe even learn a little.

More from Ella Sams.

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Ella Sams

Ella Sams is Clarke Central High School's ODYSSEY Newsmagazine Senior Visuals Editor. This is Ella's third year on ODYSSEY, with experience in broadcast and writing as well.

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