Dear incoming Kirkwood High School students,

Hi! I’m Tara, it is nice to meet you. I am currently a junior here at KHS. Recently I have been reflecting on my time spent here and have come up with a few things I wish I would have known as a freshman that I would like to share with you.

First of all, welcome. Whether you are from the KSD, private schools, a different district or even out of state, you are welcome here at Kirkwood. Think of high school as a big melting pot of all different types and kinds of people who are going to be spending a lot of time together.

I’ll start here. Our school is big and our buildings can be confusing. I won’t lie to you. Being a freshman can be overwhelming and at times very scary. But if you wholeheartedly dive in, you will find your place here.

One of the biggest pieces of advice I can give you is to keep an open mind. Whether you’re meeting new people, taking new classes or trying something new and uncomfortable, It is important to put yourself out there and take risks. I can honestly say that without doing so, I would not be where I am today. In fact I don’t know where I would have ended up.

Yes, grades are important. And so is a social life. It may take awhile to find a balance between the two, but doing so is what can make or break your high school career. Let this be a warning to you: don’t fall too deep into either one side or you will be missing out.

You will have good days and bad days here. I’ll go as far as saying you will have fantastic days and awful days. But remember to live in the moment. Your time here is short-lived and it is not guaranteed. So use your time wisely and take each day as it comes.

Everyone hits a low point. Life happens and you are not alone. Keep your head up and keep on keepin’ on. There are people here who care a lot about you and want to see you succeed. Don’t let them down.

Stay organized. All the different classes and homework can get confusing. I recommend getting a planner or something to keep your life in order so you don’t forget the important stuff.

Some classes will be hard. Some classes will be boring. Some will be easy and some will seem pointless. It is important to use your resources. High school is about learning and not everything will come easy. Use the time before and after school to get help from teachers. Don’t give up on yourself.

You will need to learn to forgive and you will need to learn to apologize. Both are important in high school and in life. You have to let yourself fail. Let yourself make mistakes and learn from them. As Hannah Montana once said (and in no way is this me recommending Miley Cyrus is a positive role model), “everybody makes mistakes.”

A few little tips to remember your first year here: always walk on the right side of the hallway and don’t stop or block the halls to avoid the wrath of upperclassmen. The end of high school relationships are not the end of the world. Be smart on social media and avoid the art building bathrooms. They smell bad.

To end this letter, I want to wish you all the best of luck. I hope your high school experience is all you want and more. Take each piece of advice with a grain of salt, and remember to be yourself.

Yours truly,

Tara Hawkins