Interview by Mekkhi Gardner ‘20
Revisions by Julian B-Man ‘20
Questions answered by Dylan Mitchell ‘19
Hello, my name is Mekkhi, and I am here with Dylan Mitchell, a recent graduate of the Middle School here at Friends’ Central. Now in the Upper School, and now serving as the “Adjunct Content Advisor” for The Phoenix Inquirer, he is here to answer some commonly asked questions eighth graders have about the transition to ninth grade. Here’s what he had to offer:
MG: How often do you study [for tests, or in general] in Upper School?
DMr: Make sure that you always take notes and study them every night. You also want to find the right kind of study method that suits you, and although it’s different for most people it shouldn’t be too hard to find one that works for you.
MG: What should I do if I’m having trouble in Middle school?
DM: Make sure that you consult in the Middle School with someone who is an expert on this matter because there are plenty of people who can help. Make sure you get help before you enter Upper School, or else it may blow way out of proportion. Never be afraid to seek out help in the end, as it’s way better than failing.
MG: Could you describe Upper School service programs?
DM: Basically, there are many different ways of completing your service requirements. There are service activities that you can sign up for, but you don’t have to sign up for these if you have co-op. On Veracross, you may see what day you have co-op on, as you will have it once per year during one of the trimesters and will be assigned to a specific letter day. Co-op is not by homeroom.
Anonymous Upper Schooler Answer: Unlike the Middle School, the service program in the Upper School is not scheduled on a weekly basis. Instead, every trimester, there are “service days” in which students and faculty devote the entire day(s) to their particular project.
MG: How does one choose athletics in upper school?
DM: Alright, athletics in the Upper School are drastically different than in Middle School. You choose them more or less the same way, yet there are no intramural sports, and every sport requires you to stay for practice until 5 PM every day. You must participate in athletics during at least four seasons before graduating Upper School.
MG: Is homework drastically worse [more work] than in Middle School?
DM: Honestly, you will never have any more than two hours of work per night, at least until 10th grade. On average, I have about an hour, not counting studying. It’s not incredibly bad, as long as you develop the right work habits during Middle School, which is also important to your grades during Middle School.
Have any additional questions for our resident Upper School expert? Comment below, or write in to msnews@friendscentral.org!