Fun, excitement, and confusion are some of the things to expect when you leave home for your first week in school as a secondary school (SHS) student can lead to stress and more anxiety. But if you have a better or fair idea of what to expect, you will be more than able to adjust to the new school life, envrioment and the many all new faces you will meet.
Keep reading this fascinating and informative post on the Top 5 Things to Expect in Your First Week of Secondary School. By the time you finish reading it, you will feel confident and comfortable.
Your first day and first week as an SHS student can significantly impact your success or failure. I have witnessed students and their parents cry both on the first day they reported to school and when their parents or siblings, who had brought them to the babysitting house, were leaving for home. You cannot put into words the emotions that fill the air and your body until you experience them firsthand as an SHS1 student attending school for the first time at that level. You will encounter an entirely new school, rules, colleagues, teachers, and many more during your first week in school, which will be an eye-opening experience. Getting prepared mentally and physically will go a long way to making the first week enjoyable, no matter the challenges you face from day one. Let us now take a careful look at the top five things to expect.
Top 5 Things to Expect in Your First Week of Secondary School
Orientation Activities
Each school has its own rules and regulations, culture, and way of life. As a new student, expect the school to organise several orientation programs at the school level as well as the department or program level to help you get used to and adjust to the school quickly. It is important that you do not miss this program for anything.
As part of the orientation program, you will have the opportunity to take a campus tour, meet teachers and other staff members, and see all the key locations and offices in the school.
Getting Used to a New Schedule
During the first week, you need to swiftly adjust to the unfamiliar school schedules. This schedule differs significantly from the one you experienced in Basic 7-9. Your wake-up time, the time you study, and the time you go to sleep will all change. Even your extracurricular activities may alter, including tasks like cleaning and weeding to maintain the cleanliness of the school premises.
Making New Friends
In your first week, you can make friends with classmates and dorm seniors and juniors. If you are a day student, you will surely make friends as well. Start making friends, then drop those you don’t need.
Living in a dormitory and adapting to shared spaces can be challenging.
The boarding school is a communal living space. Many students who attend boarding school have never lived in such a communal environment before. Since it’s a new experience for many, it’s normal to feel a little uncomfortable at first, but you will eventually get used to it over time. Be prepared for others to intrude into your personal space. Others may attempt to use your personal belongings without your permission. The boarding house has its own set of rules and regulations, including specific times for rising, bathing, sleeping (light out), and so on. Learn to cope with it and be ready to learn how to live with people from different backgrounds.
READ: How to Prepare for Boarding School In Ghana: Essential Packing List for Fresh Students
First Day in Classes and Dining Hall
On the first day of your first week in school, you will meet all your colleagues from different departments for the first time in the same class. Expect a huge number of students from Forms 1 to 3 in the dining hall. The events in class and in the dining hall will undoubtedly surprise and excite you. You need to quickly adapt to them. Prepare for your first classes, understand the expectations, and meet the teachers.
My words of encouragement for adapting to new experiences are that you should take each day as a test of your readiness to learn, live with others, and develop through the challenges and exciting moments of school. You should become accustomed to the new school life by the end of the second week.
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