From carefree child to conscientious student

The lazy days of summer are already a distant memory. The cool breeze and new crispness in the air can only mean that the fall season is upon us. So begins another exciting school year at Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway (HAFTR) High School. The happy reunion of classmates and friends subsides as students try to navigate their way through new class schedules. To many of us, it seems as if we have picked up just where we left off last June. It comes as no surprise that we are already in the swing of things.

Attending an Orthodox yeshiva high school presents a unique set of circumstances given the many Jewish holidays that arise at the start of the school calendar. Although these holidays give students an early reprieve from the onslaught of schoolwork, a consequence of these missed days of school necessitates that teachers will ultimately scramble to complete the required curriculum.

Students are inundated with a wave of responsibilities as they cross the threshold of the building during the first days of school. As a high school junior, the anticipation of what lies ahead is imposing. We know that we face a school year filled with many new challenges, the least of which includes managing our time. With our rigorous course-load comes an endless amount of tests and assignments that demand our constant attention. Additionally, high school juniors and seniors must find the time to prepare for the most intimidating and crucial aspect of our high school career, the SAT or ACT college admission exam.

Outside the four walls of the classroom, students are occupied with various other commitments. These include sports and academic teams, community service, and many other extracurricular activities. Those who are ambitious enough to join one or more of these teams, have the added pressure of finding the time in their already hectic schedules to attend meetings, practices and competitions.

At HAFTR, we are already actively involved in exciting school programs. Our freshmen participated in a scavenger hunt to learn their way around the school, and they also had a fun and rewarding retreat to Camp Seneca Lake. Our students experienced a moving pre-Rosh Hashana assembly sponsored by Project Inspire, a program dedicated to the memory of the sister of Annette Kaufman, a HAFTR parent. New student government officers were recently elected, and our College Guidance staff is busy working with HAFTR seniors on their college applications.

In the span of less than one month’s time, we have been propelled from the carefree days of summer into the demands and overwhelming responsibilities of academia. As a result, students might feel the urge to panic, falling victim to the pressures and demands that the new school year brings, thereby sabotaging any chance of success. However, using one’s time efficiently by properly balancing schoolwork, after school activities and social events, one can successfully integrate and adjust to an active and conscientious student.