Varela High School Survival Guide

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 18:59:00 GMT

By Ayana Flewellen/Editor-in-Chief and Danielle Flynn/Sound of the Halls Editor

photo by Katherine Gonzalez

Finding your way around a new school is always scary. Security is more than happy to help Freshmen.

Freshmen - Ayana Flewellen This is your guide to this new unknown world we call High School. Freshmen be warned but don’t be afraid. Yes you are at the bottom of the food chain but unlike T.V. sitcoms, Varela will not taunt you or ridicule you. Instead it will do its best to push you to become more than what you already are. Let’s start with the basics, Varela is huge and chances are that by the third month of school you still wont know how to get around the school like the upper classmen, but don’t worry it gets better. Don’t be ashamed to carry a map around school or ask for help from a friendly face. Most importantly, there isn’t a third floor and no matter what people tell you there isn’t a pool anywhere on campus. Varela thrives to bring its students to their greatest potential, but you will only go as far as you let yourself. It is your first year here at Varela; don’t set limitations just yet. First strand of advice would be to not dig a ditch you can’t climb out of. Give it your all in your freshman year because it will be too late to try and pull that G.P.A. up four years from now. Also, the office is your friend. If there are any questions you have, chances are that someone in the office will know how to answer them. In addition, this school wants you to get involved. Step out of your shell now so you won’t miss out on everything Varela has to offer. Throw yourself into things. Take a chance and join a club that sounds interesting. Try out for that sport that you have a passion for. Be outgoing and take risks; that’s what this experience is all about! Moreover, learn how to balance your school life and your social life. That doesn’t mean that you should always have your head in a book but learn how to manage things. Remember, this is your school and you should make the most of it. Don’t worry about what happened last year because this year you’re new and fresh. Enjoy it because it seems long but those four years will fly by before your eyes. Sophomores - Danielle Flynn Welcome back class of 2010. Remember last year how all you heard was FCAT – FCAT – FCAT? Well hate to break it to you but that’s all you will hear this year. Let’s start off -with the Do’s for FCAT. Studying for the FCAT is a little bit different than any other test you would study for. There really isn’t material you can study from. Instead you can do things like read a book to expand your vocabulary. You can also practice writing for Florida Writes. You can get materials to help you with this from your English or Reading teachers. For the math portion of the FCAT, do math problems you know you have a hard time in. Again, ask your teachers for help or materials you think will help you study better for the test. You can find sample test materials, FCAT Explorer, released questions and previous tests at http://fcat.fldoe.org/. There is really one don’t but this don’t is important. Do Not blow this test off. It’s a really important test to pass. If you blow it off, it’s possible that you could get stuck in intensive reading or intensive math. Do you really want to be in intensive reading or math class your junior year? Didn’t think so. Just make sure that you do the best you can. Study before the test, and not the day before either. On the day of the test, make sure you take your time and remember, don’t stress too much; it keeps your mind too occupied while taking the test. Juniors - Danielle Flynn Hey class of ‘09! You guys are almost upperclassmen. But before you get too excited about that, there are certain things you have to do your junior year. Remember last year how it was all about FCAT? Well this year, you only have to worry about the science portion of that test. Unfortunately there is another test you have to worry about. The SAT. This test is different from the FCAT. Yes there is reading, writing, and math but the problems are different. There are books you can study from and classes you can take either here at school or you can go to Miami Dade or FIU. Let’s put it this way, the more you study the better score you get, the better score you get the better chance you have of getting into the college of your choice. If the SAT is not for you, try the ACT. Most colleges will take scores from either test. Speaking of college you really need to start looking into where you want to go, what you want to study, and what scholarships you might be eligible for. There are two big no no’s. Number 1 – Do Not think that these tests are unimportant. Number 2 – Do Not wait until the last minute. Take the time you have in your junior year to do all this prep work, because your senior year flies by so fast you might not have enough time. Seniors - Ayana Flewellen Seniors have got one foot out the door and they can’t wait to slip on their gowns and turn their tassels, but before all that they have ten months to either prove them selves college worthy or suffer from a bad case of “senioritis.” Either way this is your guide with the do’s and don’t of your senior year. Do: Prepare for college. Make sure you have all your credits for graduation. You’ll be surprised how many seniors notice that they needed a computer credit the month before graduation. Your applications for colleges should be squared away. Ask your teachers for ecommendations early in the year to give them time to write them. Don’t: Cram when it comes to college applications if you haven’t gotten to writing anything. Take a step back, breathe and choose a weekend that you’ll devote mainly to your applications. Do: Study hard for school, but set time aside for having a social life. Have a balance between school and the outside world; that’s the best way to stay stress free. Don’t: Devote your whole life to school. That’ll be stressful and your senior year is full of fun activities that can be memories that will last a lifetime. Same goes for people who stay out all night and neglect school. Partying is fine and fun but not every night and not every weekend. Don’t: Cram for tests. The best way to prepare for a test is to study a little every day. Do: Have fun. This is your last year don’t let all 13 years of being in school go to waste. Dance at homecoming like no one is looking. Study for that Math test instead of going to see that ultra funny movie with your friends. Don’t worry, the Regal theater will still be showing it next weekend. Have fun, but know that graduating comes first.

The Viper Vibe

Varela High School Survival Guide