High School on the Horizon

In the fall, with an eye to the future, Grade 8 students had a chance to ask Upper Schoolers about life in high school. The informal, informative Q&As gave the young teens a glimpse of what’s in store in the coming years.

The panel featured members of all Upper School grades, including the Class of 2025, who responded to the eighth graders with candor, thoughtfulness, and reassurance. Here are just a few of the questions and answers, which have been condensed and edited for clarity and length. 

Q: What is the main difference between Middle and Upper School at Westmark?

A: In Middle School, you can’t really pick your classes. But in Upper School, there are definitely more choices and variety (especially in eleventh and twelfth grades) in the sciences, arts, and all of the other subjects. 

Q: After being at Westmark for high school, how do you think you've grown most as a student?

A1: At my old school in third grade, I was in a big class and my reading was really bad because I have dyslexia. Everyone was doing their work so quickly. I was literally on the first question! I started crying, I ran out of the room, I was so uncomfortable. When I got here, [the teachers] provided me with what I needed to learn to read. Now in tenth grade, I'm in what's called a Reading Applications class, which helps me apply my reading skills to other subjects. If I ever get confused or stuck, I think about the strategies I know and it helps me a lot. Next year, I want to take Spanish and I'm really excited!

A2: My greatest area of growth has definitely been in math. When I first got here in seventh grade and took the NWEA test for the first time, I got a pretty low score. At the end of the same year, when I tested again, my score spiked—literally like a vertical line. I have dyslexia, so reading was not my best either. It's gotten a lot better here.

A3: Time management for me. When I was in Middle School at another school, I would do anything not to do my homework because it was too hard for me to understand. Here, they break it up easily and I learned how to do it on my own.

 

Q: Did you consider other schools for high school? If so, why did you ultimately decide to stay at Westmark?

A: I didn't apply anywhere for ninth grade because I knew I needed the support provided here. I saw the way I was growing and how much more confident I am at Westmark than when I was at my old school. 

Q: How has the college counselor helped you navigate the college application process?

A: Dr. Gibson [Director of College Counseling] has helped us literally every step of the college application process. I wouldn't know where to go or what to do without her. I applied to places all over the place—some small liberal arts schools, some big universities. She starts meeting with us one on one during the second semester of tenth grade and then a lot in eleventh grade. She looks at our neuropsych, talks to our teachers, pulls from her own research, and asks us what we're most interested in to come up with a list of schools that might be a good fit. Then she takes into account what we want and are looking for. For example, I want to leave California and Dr. Gibson has helped me do that. I encourage you to start your own research on colleges!

Q: At other schools, you can take classes at a community college for college credit. Can you do that at Westmark?

A: Yes! We can take courses at Landmark College for college credit in Grades 11 and 12. And actually, I was given permission to take one during the second semester of tenth grade. I took a course called “Health Online and Offline,” which was essentially a psychology class that talked about the mind and body, human evolution, and stuff like that. I really want to study sports psychology in college, so Mr. Johnson [Director of Upper School] worked with me to take a college-level course that will help me reach that goal. 

Q: How has Westmark helped “build your resume” towards your career goals or what you want to do in college?

A: I want to study computer science in college. So two years ago, Westmark asked me to come in during the summer to help set up new systems with the new tech team that was starting. That was big for me in building on my interest. I also got to be a TA in a Digital Arts class last year and I'm the TA for Robotics club after school this year. 

Q: How has Westmark helped you overcome dyslexia and ADHD?

A: That's a good question. I don't think “overcome” is the right word. I developed skills that helped me learn how to read. For example, in English class, annotations have helped me remember what I've read, and I’ve learned skills to train my brain to recall more sight words and break down words that I don't know right away. Things like that. It's a slower process, sort of like growing. You don't ever say, “Oh my gosh, my arm is getting longer in front of my eyes!” It's a gradual process that you sometimes don't even realize. When I was in eighth grade, I remember how hard it was to write a three-paragraph essay. Now I just submitted my college essay and I felt prepared and successful to do that.