This school year, the 6th-grade students are starting their adventure in middle school, discovering new ways of learning and a new environment in school.

6th-graders have found out that the transition to middle school is among the best and worst times in their academic experience, as students from The Columbus School have come to know too well. Once they get to sixth grade, they welcome the novelty and look forward with uncertainty about the new responsibilities and obstacles. Most students arrive at middle school with high expectations and excitement about meeting new people and exploring their new environment.

“I’m excited to meet new people and learn more difficult stuff in class,” Agustin Betancur said, an 11-year-old 6th-grade student.

For several, like Betancur, going to class, meeting new people, and studying more engaging content is exciting. However, many students fear the amount of work that comes with this new experience.

“It’s a new experience, and I’m nervous about homework,” Matias Ramirez, a 13-year-old 6th grader, said.

Ramirez represents what some of his classmates are feeling and shares the fear that is deep inside every 6th-grade student. Even with challenges such as academic work, new complex content, and different study traditions or systems, some of the students have set big goals for the year and are willing to strive to achieve them despite the hard obstacles along the way. This generation shows the motivation they have for learning and overcoming challenges.

“I want to get better grades, especially in math,” Miguel Arroyave, a 12-year-old 6th grader, said.

In their spare time, students have also managed to engage in other activities, particularly playing sports, hanging out with friends/family, taking time for themselves, and more. They want to give priority to these thighs as well, apart from learning and have been able to achieve a balance in their lives.

“ I like drawing. I do it a lot and want to get good at it,” Ramirez said.

Expanding on Ramirez’s words, it’s evident that students want to work on things that don’t involve school. Schoolwork can take over our free time sometimes and it’s important to know how to manage time to balance the work with activities that we enjoy doing. It’s important to know how to manage our time with work and doing things that students enjoy. It’s crucial to find a balance between work and happiness.

“I thought middle school would have more activities, like games or fun events,” said Betancur.