Tessa Fabrizio ’25
EE Staff Writer

The THS Black Hole

As we round the corner and September turns into October, a new season will be upon us: Fall. For many people including myself, this delicious season bears many gifts, such as numerous amounts of pumpkin lattes, frappuccinos, and whatnot from your local Starbucks as well as festivals like Halloween and for us high school students, football games. But, on a much more serious note, the transition from summer to fall can be a rough one.

The switch in our minds from sunshine field days to the copious classes we balance, can cause serious stress and be quite taxing on one’s mental health. Here are my tips and tricks about how to stay as stress-free as possible:

For any new freshmen, it’s definitely daunting entering a new school with new people, but it invites many opportunities to participate in clubs and sports. However, that amount of choice can seem overwhelming. My advice would be to pick a total of three things to get involved in. It could be a club, sport, or volunteering outside of school. Three activities walk the line of what will keep you busy and involved but not enough to cause stress about balancing extracurricular activities and classes. As for classes, if you feel overwhelmed take one homework and quiz at a time. Sometimes, you will have to prioritize one class over another. Overall, if you feel too overwhelmed email or talk to your teacher about solutions.

For sophomores, what I regret most from my sophomore year is not attending more Trumbull sports games. I recommend you go–not just the football games, but basketball, volleyball and all the other sports we have to offer.

Also, meet with your guidance counselor. I highly suggest this in order not only to gain a perspective on how you are doing academically but also what you could do about your future. Whether you want to apply to college, enlist, or go to trade school they can help you make choices beneficial for your future. Regarding teachers, try and reach out if you feel like your workload is overbearing rather than just not doing it.

For juniors, the advice I have been given by those in the grade above and by those who have graduated is to form strong connections with teachers. It doesn’t matter if it is current or past, but creates a sense of familiarity so when it comes time for college applications, more specifically recommendations you have a pre-existing relationship. Another piece of advice, and one I’m sure we have all been told, is this is the year, where if you want to attend further education, grades matter. Grades don’t stand alone though, prospective colleges look at your involvement in school and with your community. This year can be very stressful, especially when thinking about applying to colleges, but to try and alleviate some of your stress, you can visit the college and career center as well as the college fair.

Lastly, for seniors, I know that the beginning of the year is so stressful. Filled with essay rewrites, finalizing applications, and numerous other things. I really cannot give advice due to the fact that I haven’t gone through this process myself, but the thing I would highlight would be to enjoy every minute of your final year. It sounds cliche but enjoy the lunches, crowded hallways, and long walks to M wing before it’s too late.

Overall, school is a stressful time for everyone, not just students but teachers and faculty alike. Remember to take it each day at a time and not to worry yourself too much about things that may be out of your control. Enjoy your year!