Even before entering Lexington High School for the first time, many of you have undoubtedly heard things about LHS students and the high school experience. Perhaps you’ve been informed that you will have absolutely no free time during this phase of your life, or that everyone at LHS has a perfect grade point average (GPA).
How do you determine which of these assumptions are true? Well, the high school experience is different for everyone! What other students have gone through or claim will happen can hardly be applied to all 2000 students at LHS.
That being said, here’s a list of definitely false myths you may have heard about LHS:
Myth #1: All LHS students are academically perfect. This misconception is one that many of you have likely encountered. While the atmosphere at LHS is notorious for its academic pressure on students, it is certainly false that all LHS students perform perfectly in their classes and exams. Most (if not all) LHS students face challenges at some point in their time here, so don’t feel alone in your struggle. Also, not everyone comes to LHS to focus on their academics — students have and will have a diversity of interests beyond the classroom.
Myth #2: Teachers are strict and/or unkind. Many students entering high school may be worried about dealing with harsh deadlines or grading. However, the idea that teachers are unkind is definitely false! LHS staff are here to help students, so if you need additional support — whether it be general advice or extra help with schoolwork — don’t hesitate to ask your teachers, guidance counselors, or other faculty. Your teachers will be more than happy to help and will work with you to find a reasonable solution.
Myth #3: You won’t have time for anything other than homework. This concern, while untrue, is certainly understandable — who hasn’t heard rumors about LHS students pulling all-nighters and having absolutely no free time? Even your middle school teachers may have stressed that classes in high school require more commitment. Nonetheless, while the transition from middle school to high school will likely be intimidating for many, LHS teachers keep that in mind. Much of what you’ve heard before is likely overexaggerated! You’ll find that your workload is actually quite manageable, as long as you develop good time management strategies. Don’t worry, you don’t have to give up pursuing your own activities or hanging out with friends.
Myth #4: Upperclassmen are unfriendly. This myth is easily false! In reality, most LHS upperclassmen would be completely willing to help you out whether you have questions, need directions, or want advice. There will be ample opportunities to interact with older students. Unlike the middle schools, LHS has quite a few classes (e.g. gym, art, other electives) and extracurricular activities where students are in various grade levels.
Myth #5: Your time in high school will determine absolutely everything about the rest of your life. It’s common for students to regard their high school career as the be-all and end-all of their future opportunities, career, and social life. While you can still strive to make the most of your time here, you shouldn’t let this pressure negatively affect your physical and mental health. I assure you that your score on that one science test or that one grade in English class will not dictate your future success.
LHS’s atmosphere encourages students to push themselves beyond their limits, making it more challenging to get adequate sleep, maintain good connections with peers, and devote time to non-academic activities. I encourage you to prioritize your health and relationships, but how you decide to spend your time at LHS is ultimately up to you! Hopefully, armed with the knowledge of these common LHS myths, you’ll feel assured that LHS isn’t what you may have been led to believe.
