by Ava McElhone-Yates ’17

With the third trimester now upon us, it’s hard to believe it has been preceeded by five others in my years of middle school. So much has happened during those trimesters: plays, field trips, sports games, tests, classes, and socials.  I love the middle school here for its friendliness, teachers, classes, and activities. It has been all I’ve known for nearly two years, and all of a sudden high school looms over us eighth graders like a mysterious shape-changing monster that can be scary or harmless, depending on how you look at it. I (and it is safe to say many of my fellow classmates) have mixed feelings about entering high school. Will it be hard? Fun?

Middle School classes are central to the Whitaker-Bement building, and it is not unusual to find someone who doesn’t know where the Schoolhouse is, or where science and history classes are taught. For many, the art on the walls in Reed, the plays in the theater, and the information provided by teachers or older siblings is the most they have seen of the Upper School.

Yet, soon we will be asked to consider classes. It is a previously unconsidered luxury for the majority of us to be able to have some say in our schedules. Up until high school, art and music are mandatory, but any depth into those is mainly out of school. All of a sudden a gleaming door opens and out comes more and more opportunities and decisions. Now we can each have the chance to narrow our interests from “art class” to design, drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, photography, and film. With these decisions comes an exciting level of responsibility and independence. No longer will we be reminded of organization or the best ways to make the most of a free period, nor will we be ushered from class to class.

Despite some questions and confusions, I am excited for high school next year. I’m ready to embrace classes and exams, extracurricular activities and sports. Yet part of me wants to stay right in the warmth of the smiling middle school, with small assemblies and lockers. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what high school brings. Before that though, we have the last trimester to enjoy to its fullest. It is crammed with exciting classes, trips to places including Washington D.C., eighth grade talks, the eighth grade semi-formal, our production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in May, and graduation. Still, each trimester speeds by. We are not only finishing the year, but middle school as well. High school is just around the corner.