Back in the Saddle: The Classes Resume

Tyler Meeks

Although we had a two-week longer break than our friends and schoolmates back home, it is finally time for the students of the Gatton Academy to return to class. Adventure Week is over, and now everyone is unwrapping their textbooks, finding their classrooms, and printing out their syllabi, eager to both begin and continue their education.

In the beginning, classes seem to be just as easy as they were in high school. The first day consists of meeting the teacher, going over the syllabus, and perhaps covering some new material. But after day one, it’s apparent that classes will be much more challenging than anticipated. The Algebra I that was covered in the first day of Calculus will soon be replaced with learning derivatives, limits, integrals, etc. At times, it can feel overwhelming, and there have been students who were unable to handle the pressure. All it takes to overcome these mixed emotions is a little hard work, perseverance, and utilization of one’s available resources.

Take, for instance, Computer Science I: a required class for all incoming juniors. The first day of CS I is spent talking about what is expected from the students, academic honesty, and a ten-minute introduction to a program called Picobot. When the CS lab was introduced the next day, junior Joshua Ray realized how hard the course might actually be. “At first, it was difficult to understand the concept,” Josh stated. “But once I figured out the structure, everything started to come together. Picobot is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.”

This opinion was shared by many other juniors. “The Java syntax was really confusing,” said junior Luke Miles. “And Picobot was also kind of obscure, but a couple of my senior friends, Cam Hubbard and Brian Carlson, were able to help me figure out how to do everything.”

Academy students have a wealth of resources available to help them succeed. Professors have office hours where they are free to meet with students and answer questions. Mandatory study hours help foster good studying skills and allow students to meet with tutors for some outside help. Students can also rely on each other for assistance. So, as we all get back in the saddle again, remember that working hard from the very beginning, pushing through when it seems impossible, and taking advantage of the resources that are available are key to being a successful Gatton student.