The beginning of high school can be a nerve-racking, exciting time for freshmen as they make their way through a completely new, often overwhelming environment. Luckily, many seniors have walked the hallowed halls of Berkeley High School (BHS) before them and have useful pieces of advice to offer.
A common way of branching out at BHS is by participating in extracurricular activities such as clubs, sports, and leadership. Even if you haven’t previously played sports or don’t have leadership experience, pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and trying new things can be incredibly rewarding.
“(Clubs) are a great way to meet people outside of your classes and outside of your small school because everyone can join them. You can start a club if you want, if you have a passion like that, which is amazing,” said AC senior Finn Whaley.
There are a variety of academic paths available at BHS, some more rigorous than others. Rigor is highly dependent on the classes students choose and the level of seriousness that they take in their studies.
“Do more than you think you can do… You shouldn't be scared to take harder classes, even if it's a subject you don't like, because chances are you'll do fine,” said BIHS senior Chloe Crowther.
The SLCs at BHS include Berkeley International High School (BIHS), Academic Choice (AC), Communications Arts and Sciences (CAS), Arts and Humanities Academy (AHA), and Academy of Medicine and Public Service (AMPS). BIHS and AC are the two largest SLCs, each with about 300 students per grade, and CAS, AHA, and AMPS are the three smallest SLCs, each with about 60 students per grade.
Although freshmen won’t have to rank their SLC choices until the spring, it is a decision that they are aware of now. According to Whaley, even if you aren’t placed with your friends, you will be able to maintain relationships but also form a new community and support system.
“There's always new people for you to meet. There's always a chance to escape if you're not happy where you are. And you know the size--it feels really big, but you only see a certain part of it every day and so in the end, it doesn't feel massive,” said Whaley
With a student body of nearly 3500, BHS holds a wide array of people and communities to find a place in. The school’s elective classes, specifically, give students the opportunity to explore their passions with the benefit of the school’s many resources such as dark rooms for film photography, kilns for ceramics, supplies and tools for carpentry, and much more. “Even if you come in not knowing anyone, there's so many classes and so many people in your classes to meet, especially in your electives when you're with upperclassmen,” said Crowther.
Self advocating is crucial during high school as students are forced to take accountability for their own success. The change from middle school to high school gives young adults increased freedom, but also increased responsibility. “Make sure that you communicate your needs… There's a lot of people that you can talk to,” said AC senior Amir Khushal.
BHS offers many resources to students including the Health Center, the College and Career Center, and academic counselors. They help ensure that students are receiving adequate support and have their needs met. “(In my experience,) the best resource at Berkeley High has been the CCC, because after school, you can go in there and you can get your work done,” said Khushal.
When asked what she would say to her freshman self, Crowther gave this piece of advice: “Just have fun, try to make friends and be outgoing, even if it's hard… It's a great time to just meet people and try new things you wouldn't normally do.”