To the 7th graders,
First, take this moment to be proud. Take this moment to say to yourself, yeah, I did it.
Pat yourself on the back and know that this wasn’t easy. Rest for a moment and know that you had some struggles. But remember that you made it through.
It’s been a tiring year. It’s probably had you sitting on the floor, head in hands, wondering what you’ll do. But it’s over.
So this is my parting gift. To the humble Spark’s street’s new leaders. To the new eighth graders.
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Take time out of your day to be nice.
Every day, say one nice thing about yourself and one nice thing about someone else. Just do one good thing for yourself, and one good thing for someone else. Your life will be better. When you surround yourself with positivity, your life turns around. There are so many more chances to be negative, so whenever you have the chance, make someone else’s day a little better.
Know that it’s not weak to ask for help.
Seventh grade was hard. Eighth grade is going to be harder. More projects, more tests, more deadlines, and a lot more red pen ink. From experience, it’s going to feel like everyone’s against you. But there’s help for you. A lot of it. Even if they’re not your friends, your classmates can help you. Your advisors, defined specifically by this trait, are there to help you. Your teachers are always there to help you. All the times you wait for help to magically appear are all the times you deprive yourself of something set out right in front of you.
Always remember to have fun.
Planning your e blocks doesn’t have to mean working all the time. You’re going to see your friends on the basketball court. You’re going to want to join them. Sometimes you’ll have to say no, but sometimes, you should say yes. Do your work so you can join them. Don’t keep yourself from having fun, work so your days to play are even more rewarding.
Lastly, take this moment to trust. Take this moment to say to yourself, yeah, I can do it again
And don’t ever let any goofy with a keyboard tell you how to live your year.
- Arjun Srivastava
P.S. - It’s a tradition, started many years ago, to make sure that in the first couple of weeks of school, you tell the 7th graders that there are doughnuts in the big room. Don’t fail us