Hi! So um. I applied for townsend Harris as my highschool for next year and to be honest im really scared? I know its a good school but im really nervous about the workload and GYM. I heard gym is really vigorous. To be honest, I havent exercised a day of my life! Overall im pretty anxious already about going and I was wondering if you can give some advice and shares some experiences maybe? I am hoping it will not be as bad I think it might be.
hello! wow, i *love* getting messages about either of my alma maters, so thanks for reaching out to me!
i definitely remember being nervous about attending townsend harris. like you, i didn’t exercise very much before starting high school. i don’t want to lie to you – gym is intense. during your freshmen year, you will likely run as much as four miles. i know that can be scary to hear. but, trust me, it’s actually really rewarding to see how physically capable you are. i remember that my first mile run took me more than 12 minutes. after one semester, i was able to run a mile in under seven minutes. i was so, so proud of myself in that moment and my gym teacher was really encouraging. after freshmen year, you get to choose what type of gym class you take. i chose aerobics for sophomore and junior year and body sculpting for senior year. i LOVED my time in all those classes. i felt motivated, strong, and graceful. looking back, i’m really glad that i was able to attend a school that had such a great emphasis on physical education and sports in general. for such a grueling academic environment, my time at townsend was defined largely by cooperativeness and teamwork. when i talk to my friends who went to stuyvesant or bronx science, i realize how special that kind of holistic approach to education can be. it’s important to invest time and energy into caring for your physical body. maybe the best thing i can say about this is: i still have a lot of stress dreams about high school, but none of them are ever centered on gym.
as for general anxiety about high school: you’re not alone in having those feelings. it can be scary to start over. chances are you won’t know a lot of people. some of the teachers can seem really strict and tough. your classes might be harder than you’re used to. i felt all those things when i started high school, over 10 years ago. and then, one day, i just didn’t. one day, townsend harris was just the place for me. i am still good friends with people i met back during my first semester there. the teachers i had changed my life and i’m grateful for their continued support and kindness. i try to visit whenever i can. not all parts of my high school experience was perfect, but it was good. looking back, i have very few regrets. i hope this was helpful to hear. wishing you all the best!!
