The following article was published in the September edition of the Abelard student-run monthly newspaper. She kindly gave us permission to reprint it here.
By: Samantha Tristen
Hello fellow Abelardians!
It’s hard to believe that September has nearly ended. For some of us, this has been our first month at Abelard; for others, we are returning students ready for another great year.
For those of you who are new to Abelard, I would like to give a few pieces of advice I hope you’ll find useful. If you’re starting in grade nine or have transferred here from another high school, the new experience can be rather daunting. As someone who has been here since the ninth grade, I hope I can offer some helpful tips to aid you throughout the year.
- Your teachers are here to help you. At Abelard, we are so fortunate to have teachers who are extremely dedicated to teaching and bringing out the best in students. They genuinely care about how you are doing, and want to see you improve and succeed. If you have any questions about classes, assignments, or anything else, don’t be afraid to ask one of the teachers. It is their job to guide you, and they truly do care about how you are doing. So don’t hesitate to ask for something if you need it!
- The community is welcoming and friendly. One of the greatest advantages to being in such a small school is the community that is formed. It is very easy to make friends with people in all grades. Everyone mingles with one another, and everyone is friendly and kind. Abelardians are also extremely supportive towards one another; we have all experienced exam stress and have all encountered a difficult assignment, so we understand each other remarkably well. Abelardians are the greatest people on the planet, and our community is unique and wonderful.
- Staying organized makes everything easier. It is much more simple and efficient to write down your homework than to try to remember it. Maintaining an organized locker throughout the year makes things easier when you are rushing from class to class or need to find something. There will be times in the year when you will feel stressed and overwhelmed, but this stress can be softened if you are well-organized. However, everyone has a different method of organization that works best for them, so use what benefits you the most.
- Take advantage of the opportunities provided. One of the best things about Abelard is the vast range of interesting courses it offers. It is easy to maintain all your interests, as well as develop new ones. For example, I have wanted to be an archaeologist since I was three, but I also love math and science. I have been able to keep up my interests in both the humanities and the math/sciences, plus developing entirely new interests, such as Attic Greek. Abelard also offers unique opportunities outside of the classroom. We are informed of great places to volunteer, work, or visit. Our student council always plans interesting excursions and fun movie nights. If I can give only one piece of wisdom, it is to take advantage of the fantastic and unique opportunities that are given here. I sincerely hope that you find these pieces of advice to be helpful. Remember, Abelard is more than a school; it is an environment dedicated to helping its students grow and bringing out the best in everyone.
The Abelard School 