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Murray Barber Middle School eighth graders Alyssa L. Morton-Hardesty, Audrey Gardiner, Michelle Riles, and Miguel Walker write letters to their sixth-grade selves.

 

Transcript:

Alyssa L. Morton-Hardesty: Dear middle school Alyssa: in sixth grade, if I could go back in time, I would want you to know that school isn't that hard if you put work in. It isn't necessarily as interesting as you would like it, but it isn't as hard as you thought it would be. You started middle school a bit late, but it's been good. I wish you would have known about how much clubs, friends, and people in general that could help you instead of trying to do everything yourself. Although you still do that now, you have some people to talk to now. Reading is fun and I wish you would have gone into it sooner because it's really helped in school as well as having something productive to do to in spare time. Your best friend is still around so don't worry about when you will miss her. We still talk all the time, and you also made a lot of new friends as well. Basketball isn't really something that you do anymore. It got boring and we lost motivation but currently I'm trying to get into a few different clubs to keep active. I know homeschooling was boring but in eighth grade you go to a normal school. It's very different, especially dealing with teachers, students, drama and a change in environment. I wish you would have gotten into some clubs and not been so antisocial as it wasn't healthy for you. You liked going out, but you never discovered that until you tried it. Classes are much easier than you thought and math didn't get any better, but it didn't get any worse. Your grades are much better when you put in effort, so I wish you would have tried instead of doing anything but school. Anyways, I can't wait to get to high school and see how it all plays out. Yours truly, eigth-grade Alyssa.

 

Audrey Gardiner: Dear sixth-grade Audrey, if I could go back in time, I would like to tell you a number of things, but academically, I would like for you to go to tutoring for math. Math during middle school got much harder, and I didn't learn a lot of things in sixth grade as well as I should have. So if you went to tutoring, that would help you a lot in the future. School is extremely important, and if you study for all of your tests, fix your handwriting and — and try your hardest, you will understand everything and not be confused. Also, one last thing that, so you won't be confused, is to learn how to organize all of your work. This year, now that I finally mastered how to organize my work, my life has been so much easier. I have found myself getting more work done and turned in because I didn't lose it. This also makes studying a lot easier now because I know what papers I need to study and where they are. You've made every experience big or small, seem very important because you never know when it'll be your last. Sixth grade had a lot of fun projects in school, and a lot of other events outside of school. I never went to any of the out-of-school events and I rarely cherished the in-school events as much as I should have. If I spent more time making memories, I would have had a much better year. Also, prioritize your friends, making new connections, and building onto old ones. Please work on your personality and be more patient, nice and way less annoying. Also, take better care of yourself and find your style so that you can stop being bullied for it. I used to be known as the girl with pink hair or just known in general for my weird style and how I acted. I would have loved to be able to go back in time and fix that so that school was easier. If somebody is getting on your nerves, talk to them about it and if they're not willing to change, drop them. Lastly, don't stress as much. Life is full of learning experiences, and I'm sure that in a year or two I would have known so many more things that I wish I knew now. Although you might want to fully take my advice rushing to find yourself, who your real friends are, what personalily you want to have, etc., Having embarrassing phases are very important to your life and development, so be yourself. From, eighth-grade Audrey.

 

Michelle Riles: Dear sixth-grade Michelle, if I can go back in time I would want you to know it does not matter what other people think of you. Impressing people is pointless because your real friends will like you for who you are and not an act. Prioritize homework because it gets worse more and more throughout middle school. It might have been missed homework then, but it adds up and catches up to you sooner than later. Do not try to hang on to fake friends. They become a lost cause and make your middle school experience worse. Spend time on yourself and prioritize your family. Self-care is important. School will not always be a breeze, but you will not fail overall. Do not pity yourself for not having advanced math, maybe it's better that way. Challenges are good, not a waste of time. Maybe try to have a more open mindset. It gets you further in school. Tutoring and raising your hand is not embarrassing, and your friends will be the highlight of your year, even the teachers. Social studies is still and will forever be your favorite subject. Maybe not science anymore. Try to pay attention in science because it gets really hard in eighth grade. Miss Alexander stopped teaching eighth grade social studies, but Mr. Wolfgang is just as cool as her. And you'll have Miss — Miss Alexander twice in seventh grade, which is amazing she's just the best. Everything you got from your $300 Shein cart in sixth grade is a waste of money because everything's ugly, so please save your money. Dyeing your hair ginger in seventh grade is one of the best decisions that you'll ever make, and adding a blonde skunk stripe is even better because it just looks amazing.  Your black roots have grown all the way, so now you're going to dye it for the third time this new year. Appreciate your friends while you have them and keep getting better at doing nails, doing hair, and just loving yourself until the people around you are safe. Bye.

 

Miguel Walker: Dear sixth-grade Miguel, if I was presented the opportunity to go back in time to heed you the upcoming trials, I wouldn't hesitate. You might have a lot of questions. However, the most important thing I would tell you would be to develop time management and patience, like reading a book, practicing calm games. Sleeping from here and there. There'll be many occasions where you'll get a lot of work. It's important to manage your time wisely, not from behind. Like, for example, the many projects. There will be many projects to come. Many essays you have to do, and you need to practice patience and time management. Patience is an important thing to master, in case you feel overwhelmed or stressed. Stress affects one-third of all teens. Getting overwhelmed is just one of many factors. In a way, all teens should develop some way of handling stress and patience, etc. Also, homework is going to be a big thing in the year to come: all through your sixth grade, your seventh grade, eighth and probably all through high school as well. You have to get homework, and you know the model where we try to finish all our homework before we go to school and we have no homework at home? That's not going to work anymore. We will have to put down the game, pick up the writing, and do your homework.

Unknown Student: sir?

Unidentified: Did you do your homework yet?

Unknown Student: No sir.

Unidentified: And are you on games?

Unknown Student: Uh, yes, sir.

Unidentified: Boy, you better get to that homework right now!

Unknown Student: Yes, sir.

Miguel Walker: So getting into the habit of just setting aside, you know, a little 30 minutes to catch up on homework is necessary. After all, don't let this message deter you, but give you motivation to persevere even when the odds aren't in your favor. After all, you. Are. Miguel.