Starting high school can feel like stepping into a completely different world, with new teachers, new routines, and a lot more freedom. For many students, middle school was a time of figuring things out: learning how to balance schoolwork, friendships, and personal growth. Now that they’ve moved on to high school, several students reflected on what they’ve learned from that experience, what they’re glad to leave behind, and how high school has helped them grow both academically and emotionally. 

One of the biggest differences students notice between middle school and high school is the sense of independence. Many said they now feel more trusted and free to make their own choices. “One thing I don’t miss about middle school is how boring it could be,” said Allison Arias. “There was a lot of pressure to fit in, and that made it hard to really be yourself sometimes.” She explained that in middle school, people often tried to act a certain way just to be accepted, while high school has felt more open and mature. Students feel more comfortable expressing who they are and focusing on their interests instead of worrying about what others might think.

For others, the change from middle school to high school has been about finding better balance and support. The work might be harder, but so is the sense of community. Trinity Cushing shared, “Middle school made me feel confused, stressed, and sometimes unhappy, but now in high school, I still feel stressed, except the people around me help with all the overwhelming stress.” She said that in middle school, everything felt like it was happening too fast, and it was easy to feel lost or behind. Now, with more supportive friends and teachers, she’s learned that stress doesn’t have to be faced alone. Staying organized has also been a big lesson for some students. Luis Lopez admitted that keeping up with schoolwork was one of his biggest challenges in middle school. “Being organized was hard in middle school. I never had the notes ready, but now I keep up, and it makes class way easier,” he said. High school’s structure, with more independence and responsibility, has helped him develop better study habits and time management skills.

High school has also brought a change in the social environment. For many students, middle school was filled with drama and peer pressure that made it difficult to focus or feel comfortable. “High school gives us more freedom, and that’s made a big difference for me,” said Freda Soehedey. “In middle school, there was a lot of social drama and peer pressure, but now I feel more comfortable just being myself.” Kayla Moore agreed, explaining that high school feels calmer and more focused than middle school ever did. “One thing that I’m glad is different in high school is the drama and everyone talking about everyone else for no reason. It made things better for me because there’s not that much drama or fighting anymore,” she said. Kayla also had advice for current middle schoolers who are still trying to figure things out: “Don’t goof off with your friends and not pay attention to your teacher, focus on yourself and your grades.”

Middle school can be an exciting and positive time filled with growth and new opportunities. It’s a place where students start discovering their interests, building stronger friendships, and gaining more independence. With a variety of classes, clubs, and activities, middle school allows kids to explore new subjects and talents. It was kind of a tradition of middle school to have these yearly things, such as field day, prep rallies, the dances, etc. Those events brought everyone together and made school feel like more than just classes. For instance, a freshman in Osbourn High School named Yasmin Amaya Martinez said ‘’There was one event that I really enjoyed was the Valentine’s Day dance. The reason why I really enjoyed it was that my friends were there, we danced throughout the time, made bracelets, and ate a lot of candy. At the end of the dance. We all say goodbye and call each other at night to talk about what we did together at the dance.’’ A great way to exemplify a dance, one of the best parts of middle school was going to the school dances. They were always something to look forward to, with music, lights, and a chance to hang out with friends outside of class. 

So as for the traditional events like prep rallies, they can be fun and laugh just like students at Osbourn, a freshman, Javier Via Llanes said ‘’One tradition I really enjoyed in middle school was the prep rallies. They were loud and chaotic, but that’s what made them fun. “Pep rallies were some of the most exciting moments in middle school. The whole school would come together to cheer, play games, and show school spirit. The gym was always full of energy, with music blasting, students shouting, and teachers joining in the fun. These are all freshman remembering but there’s some sophomores are still not over about middle remembering how they used have so much fun in middle school all the childish memories when they were in middle school like for instances, a sophomore at Osbourn named Daniel Garay Segovia said ‘’Field day was the best, it was that one day where everything felt different, no class, no homework, just hanging out outside with your friends.’’

A lot of freshmen and sophomores remember how much fun middle school really was. At the time, it didn’t always feel like it, but now we realize those years were full of good memories. From laughing in the hallways with friends to going to school dances, pep rallies, and field days, there was always something to look forward to. Even the little things, like sitting at lunch with your favorite people or joking around in class, meant a lot. Middle school was where many of us started to figure out who we were, and even with the awkward moments, it was a time we’ll never forget.

Some people hate school, but they enjoy the last few weeks of school, which have lots of fun and enjoyable memories. And it’s sad leaving people from middle school, too, where there was a lot of fun when the years go by so fast. Freshman Melanie Perez said ‘’I would relive the last day of school. Because it was a half day and I got to say goodbye to all my friends in our middle school before we started our summer break.’’ A great way to explain her last day of middle school was that it felt strange walking through the halls one last time, remembering all the good times, funny moments, and even the tough days that helped us grow. Some people were ready to move on, while others were nervous about starting high school.

Now that everyone has experienced these middle school moments, there are some things that people would go back and change. People wish they had gone back in time just to fix some things they did, good or bad. If someone could talk to their middle school self, they would probably tell them not to worry so much about what others think. Many of the things that seemed like a big deal back then weren’t actually that important. They might say to enjoy the small moments more, laugh with friends, try new activities, and not be afraid to make mistakes. Erica Lainez Ramirez said ‘’If I could tell my middle school self anything, it would be not to stress so much about fitting in or what other people think.’’  This is a great example of the kind of advice many people wish they had followed in middle school. Looking back, our middle school self seems like a completely different person. Not in a bad way, just younger, quieter, and trying to figure things out one step at a time.

Middle school wasn’t always easy, but looking back, there were parts worth remembering. Some days were full of stress, drama, or feeling left out. Not everyone felt included all the time, and that could hurt. But there were also moments where people came together, helping each other in class, including someone new at lunch, or just making someone feel seen. Inclusion wasn’t perfect, but students started to understand it better.

Now in high school, they can look back and see how middle school had both good and bad aspects to it. 

What is your favorite middle school memory? Is high school a better place, in your opinion? Tell us in the comments!