Hi ATYPers!
I’m Aurora, an ATYP
alum for math and English, and a senior at Harper Creek High School and BCAMSC.
I just wanted to share a few lessons I’ve learned that might help you in the
year ahead.First, and as I’m sure you already know, ATYP is a lot of work – probably more than you’ve had before. Success is all about time management and efficiency. When you get your work for the week, try to plan it out (see Ms. Nan’s post on planners), and start as soon as possible. That way, if you get stuck or something goes slower than expected, you’ll still have time to puzzle it out, go to help sessions, or ask your teacher. However, be careful to set time limits. Sometimes I would sit down to work, and if I didn’t have anything else planned, I’d spend way too long on one assignment. You may have heard that “work expands to fill the time available,” and I’ve found that’s very true – especially for essay-writing. To prevent this, I set reasonable time limits based on past experience. This minimized perfectionism, helped me stay efficient, and left room for fun, too!
Initially, I know the workload feels overwhelming, but ATYP has a strong support system. If you’re ever confused about an assignment, or need help in any way, I encourage you to go to help sessions. The tutors are super knowledgeable and fun to talk to, and it’s also great practice in getting comfortable asking for help. In college, many professors have office hours, which are very similar. You might not realize it now, but ATYP is excellent preparation for college: challenging workloads outside of class, heavy responsibility, and the need for independence.
While you’re in ATYP, try to make connections, too. This was a challenge for me, since I lived in Battle Creek and only had virtual classes, but I really wish I had connected with classmates more. I’ve since become close with some friends who were also in ATYP from BCAMSC, and we share a lot in common. ATYP definitely changes people – it made me more resilient, hard-working, and curious. Your classmates are great people to befriend, and the connections you make here can stay with you for years. ATYPers like you are very likely to be successful in life, and who knows – maybe one day you’ll meet up again with one of your classmates – it is a small world.
Above all, my best advice is simply to keep going. There were many times I felt overwhelmed, but it is all worth it. Finishing high school coursework while still in middle school is no easy task, but it makes high school much more enjoyable and gives you crucial skills for success in college and life – skills your regular classes may not offer. Be proud of how far you’ve come, and keep working hard!
Many thanks to Aurora for her words of wisdom!
