Junior Perspective

Year Nine Perspective

You’ve spent the holiday with your stomach tied in knots, not knowing whether to be excited or terrified. The day looms nearer, it’s daunting. You recently answered a call from a stranger claiming to be your peer support leader, following which you hurried to text your friends “What class are you in?” Maybe you were lucky and they replied with the same teacher code as yours, or you were unfortunate - as I was - and with each reply it becomes apparent that not a single friend is in your class.

With hyped up thoughts, you review your stationery, prepare your uniform, arrange meeting points with mates, and try to enjoy the final days before being thrown into secondary school life.

Year Ten Perspective

It’s common knowledge that year ten is the best of high school. You drift in a comfortable bubble, familiar with the school system and not worrying about NCEA exams. Either you thoughtfully reflect on how to improve from the previous year, or you YOLO it and jump in head first.

However, even in the comfortable bubble there are concerns. You think of your lousy form teacher, or the English teacher who gave you a non-achieved, and suddenly you’re biting your nails, fearful of a harsh teacher who dishes out detentions as quickly as your Nan dishes out pudding.

Then you remember the irritating year sevens from two years ago and your comfortable bubble starts to shrink. Now they are going to be year nines, glowing and gloating with the energy that comes from novelty. At least this year you won’t be the smallest fish in a big pond, they will, and you’re superior. With that thought your bubble expands.

Getting prepared for school is much of a muchness. As always, you personalise your stationery and check your classes online, but the main back to school highlight is the prospect of getting to catch up with mates, after seven weeks of separation! You can hardly wait!