Moving up and out

Cranbury School graduates excited about meeting new challenges

By: Madeleine Johnson
   For the students who bid adieu to their academic career at Cranbury School in June, September means that things are about to become a little different.
   And for a handful of soon-to-be freshmen, moving on to a new school means that this school year is actually something to get excited about.
   "I’m very excited for high school," said Steven Hellstern, a new freshman at Princeton High School. "I’m looking forward to it, to the different atmosphere and the bigger school and meeting new people."
   "We’ve been in Cranbury School for so long that high school will be a nice change of scenery," said Danielle Dredger, who will be a freshman at Princeton High School. "In my graduating class, we had 80 people. I’m going to miss everyone knowing each other and feeling like a family. We’re moving on to a school that has 300 people per class."
   The popular opinion seems to be that the tight-knit community of Cranbury School, where most Cranbury students spent their kindergarten-through-eighth-grade years, was comforting and something they’ll miss, though leaving it behind for a bigger academic institution is a necessary step in growing up.
   "I think high school has a lot more academic opportunities and things to do," said Shyam Modi. "There’s a lot more freedom about how you work because your teachers expect you to be more responsible."
   While most teenagers are eager to grab on to every little bit of extra freedom they gradually earn, knowing that high school teachers will expect a little more can be a little daunting for new high school students.
   "The most difficult thing about high school will be how the teachers give you more freedom and they let you make your own decisions," Haley Andres said.
   Princeton High School’s newest batch of freshmen aren’t the only ones who are getting ready to attend a new school. Kate Johnson, who will be a freshman at The Peddie School, is preparing herself for the upcoming school year.
   "I’m not going to have some of my Cranbury friends going with me, but I’m hoping to make new friends, too." Kate said. "I’ll be in a different atmosphere and smaller class sizes than if I was going to PHS. I can’t say if it’s going to be harder, but I guess the relationship between teachers and students is different because some of the teachers live on campus."
   Like all changes, facing the challenges of a new school undoubtedly brings about a few nervous conjectures. The inevitable increase in academic responsibilities and navigating the unfamiliar halls appear to be the most common concern among Cranbury’s new freshmen, though they have worried about a handful of other potential obstacles.
   "I’ve never been (to Princeton High School) before, so I might get lost," said Danielle. "I don’t know any of the teachers, so I don’t know what they’ll expect." "The most challenging thing about high school will be the courses and trying to keep my old friends while still making new friends," Haley said.
   "There might be a lot of homework, but I can probably handle it," said Sharon Lurye. "I was kind of nervous because high school is always portrayed with mean cheerleaders in movies, but everyone says that (high school) is not much different from middle school."
   Having older friends or siblings assuage the future freshmen’s fear seems to make it a little less nerve-wracking to face the transition from being at the top of Cranbury School’s ranks to being the youngest students in high school.
   "My brother’s in high school and he seems to be doing fine and having fun," said Shyam.
   Even though these soon-to-be freshmen have wondered how they’ll manage their time in order to adapt to more demanding academic expectations, they are looking forward to ways they can get involved in extracurricular activities.
   "I was thinking of doing either field hockey or crew in the fall, basketball in the winter and softball in the spring," Kate said.
   "I like drama a lot, so I’m thinking of joining a drama club," Danielle said.
   "Last year I was Student Council president and I’m thinking about running for student government," Shyam said. "I don’t know what all the clubs are, but once school starts, I’ll go to as many meetings as I think sound interesting."
   Cranbury School offered these students a chance to explore individual interests both in and out of the classroom. High school offers them a chance to expand upon and fine-tune these interests, which is something many of the future freshmen can’t wait to do.
   "I’ve taken Spanish since first grade," Haley said. "I think taking it in high school will help me learn better so I can speak in full sentences instead of just memorizing vocab."
   "High school will help me learn new things and expand my horizons," Steven said. "I’ve played soccer since I was 4, and now I’m on the high school’s varsity team. I’m definitely going to stick with (soccer) through high school."
   While looking ahead is exciting, these students were able to take a few moments and reflect on the past so they could offer some advice to Cranbury School’s newest eighth-graders.
   "They make the GEPAs (Grade Eight Proficiency Tests) sound like a big deal, but it’s the easiest test you’ll have to take," Danielle said.
   "Have fun and enjoy eighth grade," Haley said. "I thought it would be a slow year, but it ends really quick."