8th Grade Self-Assessment

At the end of last year, the eighth graders took some time to talk to us about moving up from the seventh grade. While Greg was in the room they told us things like, "It's a lot more challenging," and, "You have to make sure your really organized." But when Greg left, warnings started to fly our way and my trepidation for the oncoming year grew. "You have to write 15 pages a week!" "When Martha says something funny you can laugh, but only if she's smiling too, and only if it's at the end of class, and don't laugh too long or you'll get in trouble." So coming into this year, it's needless to say I was scared. Fortunately, these first five weeks have been nothing like what the described. So far, the homework isn't overwhelming, the classes are engaging, and I'm enjoying the start of my eighth grade year.

This year, social life is very similar to last year. I have a group of friends, some in the class and some not, who i really enjoy being with during school and on the weekends. This includes Helen, Ellery, Mary, Hannah, Mary Emma, Sylvia, Coles, and some other girls too. No one in our class intimidates me, I actually really enjoy taking classes with the eighth graders because everyone has very different personalities and it's always interesting to be around them and you never know what's going to happen next. I already feel close to the eighth graders, this being my second year with them, but I hope we do more activities with the seventh graders and our buddies so we can get to know them better, too.

I don't think of myself as a "leader" in terms of academics, or making everyone be quiet or getting students to work together. I've never been that good at enforcing rules or always getting my work done on time, so in those ways, I've never been much of a leader. But so far this year I feel like I've been some what of a leader in engaging with our seventh graders. Last year, I, (and most of the other eighth graders,) felt like we never got to know our eighth graders as well as we wanted to. That's why, when I get the chance, I try to talk to our seventh graders during lunch or between class periods and see what they think about the seventh grade and how they like their teachers. I really like our seventh graders this year, so it's easy to talk to them and I enjoy it too!

I've always been a procrastinator, (Greg knows that...) and I've never been very organized. Those are the two main things I really want to work out this year. So far, I've gotten all my work in on time and I've been some what organized, but I know those two things are majorly taken into account in high school, so I'm determined this year to start on homework earlier and make sure to use my assignment book. Another thing is paying more attention during classes. I often find my mind wandering during classes and I begin to not pay attention. I really want to focus this year on, well, focusing.

I'm really excited for this year and hope it's as good as seventh grade!