A sophomore’s first semester at Sunlake High School can feel like a big step up, and this year was no different. Overall, Alina Rivera felt that the first semester was okay, but definitely harder than freshman year. It went by quickly, but it also came with more pressure and higher expectations, which took some time to get used to. 

During the semester, Alina was involved in Key Club and Hawkeye. Being a part of these clubs made the school year better and allowed her to have fun. Both clubs were good experiences, especially since there was a lot of volunteering and she “love volunteering.” Alina said that they really loved helping and giving back, which made school feel more enjoyable and less dull at times. Stress was a big part of the semester. Alina said she was stressed a lot of the time, mostly about getting work turned in on time. What stressed her out the most was how some teachers waited until the last minute to grade assignments. On top of that, some teachers even changed grades from quarter one, which made things confusing and frustrating. 

Winter break was something she was very excited about. After a long semester, a break from school felt necessary. She admitted they were excited because “school was so stressful” and winter break meant time to relax and not worry about assignments. The biggest adjustment from freshman year was how much harder the classes were. She says “learning how to study properly can be difficult.” Which shows the challenge and time it takes to figure out which strategy works best. She explained that overall “teachers this semester were okay”, though she mentioned some were harder on her than others which induced even more stress. 

Looking ahead, Alina has goals for next semester. She wants to raise her GPA, focus more on school and friends, and start learning how to drive. Overall, the first semester at Sunlake High School was challenging, but it helped her grow and prepare for the rest of sophomore year.