Welcome to FPM, the class of 2022!

Seventh grade, your first year in a school where you have multiple teachers and classes on both the first and second floors. All of you running in the halls, hyperventilating because you do not want to be late. Your bookbags appear to weigh 700 pounds because you are either not able to open your locker in time or are concerned about finding the fastest route to class.

I get it. We all do. We were all seventh graders once before, and I’m here to tell you the truth. First, believe it or not, you WILL make it to class ON TIME! There’s no need to push people out of your way. Four minutes is more than enough time. I see some of you running frantically with your heavy bookbags, but I cannot stress enough how important your lockers are to assist you at FPM. They are assigned for a reason. Do you best to figure out what books you need, and when to go to your locker so you do not have to carry all that extra weight around during the day.

Second, do not be afraid of he older students. We really can offer you help during the day. The hallways are very crowded, especially with the construction, but people are pretty polite. If there is an occasional pushing incident, it is most likely accidental and in the parts of the school that resemble Grand Central Station during rush hour. Remember, they are trying to get to class just like you are. And even though they may not want to admit it, the upperclassmen were once “little seventh graders” themselves, being mocked for the extra large backpacks. You guys will feel the same way once you make it to eighth grade and see the students in the grade below you panicking in the halls, getting lost heading to class and fearful of the older kids.

My advice is to have fun getting acclimated to a new school, it’s a great place. Get to know as many people as possible. Join different clubs and sports teams. And work hard in your classes. Before you know it, the academic clock of high school classes will begin and it will be you offering advice to the younger students.

Whether we like it or not, time goes quickly.