Dear Hackley Class of 2020,

You all are beginning a new chapter of your lives, and that can be pretty terrifying. However, there are two ways in which you can deal with this terror. You can let it consume you for the duration of your Upper School experience, or you can embrace the endless possibilities Hackley has to offer.

These next four years will be instrumental in shaping what kind of a person you will become. You will face many changes, countless struggles, and you will make many mistakes. We have some advice that we think will help make your transition as smooth as possible.

First impressions are important. Be sure to start off your relationships on a positive note, whether it be with friends, faculty, or teammates. When you see someone sitting alone especially if they are someone you haven’t normally engaged with, go try to introduce yourself. Everyone is in the same position, so know that you’re not the only one feeling awkward! On the other hand, if you’re finding that you tend to gravitate towards one or two people, expand your horizons. Feel free to join clubs, sign up for new clubs, or attend breathtaking art performances. Hackley is such a welcoming community with a diverse student body, so really take advantage of the opportunities put in front of you.

Your study habits are created now. Figure out a balance between time spent on schoolwork, extracurriculars, friends, and family. You don’t have to go out all the time, but don’t spend every weekend alone studying in your room. Grades are important, but there are more lessons to be learned than just in the classroom. Don’t be discouraged by a couple bad grades; it takes some time to adjust to the high school curriculum. Keep working hard and talk to your teachers, deans, or upperclassmen whenever possible.

There are many more words of wisdom that we could share with you all, but sometimes it takes falling down a couple times to realize the best ways to rise up. We hope you enjoy your time at Hackley as much as we have.

Sincerely,

Joy Dracos

Online Editor, The Dial