Dear New Student…

Compiled by Anushree Samsi 

Joining the Alsion Community, most of us did not know what to expect. Over our time here we have gained knowledge as we adapted and learned from our mistakes. In this four-question piece, Alsion students from four different grades reflect on their time at the school and give advice to new students. 

Q: For a student coming from MSF, what is it like having homework all of a sudden?

9: When I first came to Alsion, the homework was a shock to me. Things that I find to be so simple now seemed to be extremely complicated back then, until I got into the hang of things. Although I knew what was coming, I didn’t expect the workload to be as it was and didn’t know what was expected. Therefore, I tried my absolute hardest on every single assignment, both a blessing but a detriment.

10: It definitely takes a bit of getting used to, especially since Alsion is such a different environment than MSF regarding academics and homework. I had to figure out how to manage my time and prioritize my assignments, which was a new experience for me. 

11: Having a lot of homework suddenly is definitely a little jarring and it does take a little time to adjust. I did eventually end up getting used to having work every night, and it does get a little easier, though it was definitely a struggle to learn how to manage time well and learn how to do assignments efficiently.

12: It sucks because you’ve never had something like that before if you’ve been in the Montessori system from the beginning. You’ll get used to it eventually… you have to. 

Q: Does Alsion get harder or easier as time progresses?

9: How the difficulty of Alsion is viewed really depends on your mood, your mindset, and how much you commit yourself. For me, I haven’t found the school and the work given to be hard, but time-consuming. While important lessons are learned, there hasn’t been much for me that was extremely difficult to get a grasp on, etc. However, I will say that the workload definitely increases over time and throughout the year, making the school feel harder than it is at face value. 

10: I think Alsion gets a lot easier as time progresses since you gain more experience with what is expected of you from the teachers and how to manage your time. 

11: In middle school, as you adjust to the homework, it gets easier to manage your time and settle into a routine. I think ninth grade gets a little harder with taking an AP course. For Early College, the difficulty depends on the classes you decide to take. However, the idea of having homework every night and having frequent tests, which scared me so much before seventh grade now seem like normal, routine things and dealing with these things definitely gets easier as time progresses and you have more practice with them.

12: Alsion gets easier after the first few semesters, as you learn to adjust to the work model. It will get more difficult when you start taking AP courses in 9th grade, given the course load, and expectations will go up. In Early College, your experience is what you make of it – teachers aren’t going to push you or give you too much homework, but you will have to study a lot and develop strong time management skills to pass your classes. Outside of school, you will also have to be constantly developing your profile, but you can make that easier by starting projects early rather than cramming them into your last few years of school. 

Q: What do you wish you had known when you first arrived at Alsion?

9: After being at Alsion for almost three years now, I wished that I could tell seventh-grade that I would be fine. Coming to Alsion was a major change; I didn’t know if I would succeed or be good enough compared to my peers. However, I have learned that if you try hard and commit yourself, there are always benefits to be reaped.

10: I wish I had asked for help more rather than trying to do everything by myself. Independence is important, but so is knowing when you need assistance or clarification on what you don’t understand.

11: I wish I had known not to take everything so seriously. While putting effort and heart into everything you do is important, you should also take the time to enjoy things and not put unnecessary stress on yourself.

12: Nothing. You learn as you go.

Q: What is one word of advice you would give to upcoming seventh graders?

9: The one word of advice that I would give to the seventh graders is that you don’t always have to be the best. The world is a hard enough place already, and comparing yourself to your friends or trying to get the best grades won’t help you in the long run. Try hard, but also know when to stop. Enjoy the simple things in life as much as you can, and remember that there’s a whole world outside of school. 

10: Don’t compare yourself to everyone around you. People learn at their own pace and constantly pushing your limits can cause a lot of burnout, especially as a seventh-grader. Of course, it’s important to challenge yourself, but don’t beat yourself up about test scores and not understanding something. Be nice to yourself and remember to ask for help if you need it!

11: Ask for help when you need to and do not stress yourself out too much. Just do things to the best of your ability and develop a time management routine early on. Most of all, enjoy your time in Alsion and have fun!

12: “Engage”. Alsion is a wonderful community and you should take full advantage of its opportunities from the start. Don’t be afraid because of your age; it’s never too early to start and you will get some truly amazing experiences. 

What can you take away from the many bits of advice that you have received? If anything, there is no “correct” approach. Naturally, there will be ups and downs as you go through school, and generally any part of your life. Take this as an opportunity to prepare yourself for what is to come next, and what you want next. This is not a journey that you are meant to experience alone, but one where you will grow, meet new people, and find your place in the community and eventually in the world. Every person would be lying if they said that they fully understood what their future held for them. Slowly, though, we are all realizing that school isn’t all about stress and grades and life isn’t all about scraping by. There is great capacity for fun, happiness, and experiencing the joy of life, so don’t forget that along the way! Have a great rest of the year!!