Graduates offer survival tips for underclassmen

Jeremy Hinds

@hurdle_gang

Chief Photographer

At the end of the long academic journey known as high school, some alumni could reflect on the past years and think, “I wish I would’ve done more.” Whether it’s regret because of a missed opportunity or a mistake with serious consequences, many wish that they had a guide through those turbulent four years.

2015 Tupelo High School graduates Shawanda Jones and Quintera Berry both have things they would have done differently, and they want to guide current students from the mistakes they made.

“The most important advice I have for students at Tupelo High is to be mindful of the opportunities you are awarded with here,” Jones said. “There are a lot of other school districts that don’t have the same opportunities as us.”

A common mistake that many high school underclassmen will make is to assume that all of their life will fall into place their junior and senior years. This assumption and resistance against teachers who try to teach differently takes away valuable time that could have been spent being proactive about future challenges.

“I owe my survival in high school to a lot of prayer and teachers like T. Braden and Mrs. Miller,” Jones said, referring to her journalism instructors, T. Braden Bishop and Ginny Miller. “My senior year was the roughest year of high school due to senior projects, Advance Placement classes and time management.”

A student’s survival, not only mentally and physically, but of their grades and GPA as well, is the solid base of the journey into college and beyond. Going into college with a good work ethic and good grades gives students a well needed boost that, sadly, most don’t have. Turning in assignments late, coming to class late, and general bad time management plagues many students who do not have the discipline. While juggling classes, extracurricular activities and sports may be hard for some students – the stress is worth it. Not only does it shape self-discipline, but it also shapes character.

Someone who has experienced the horrors of high school before makes for a wise and reliable guide through some of the challenging times of high school.

“Having older friends helped me so much and they are fun, but whenever they graduate you will miss them and cry,” Berry said. “I encourage older, upperclassmen friends because they can give you good advice like I am trying to do now.”

Having older friends can teach younger students maturity and how to be proactive in their preparing for the years to come. Underclassmen bracing themselves for new challenges, instead of waiting for them to come, can take ambitious teens very far in life.

“My most important advice to students now is that procrastination is the devil,” Berry said.

“And all current students now should remember that quote.”