Quarter 1 Ends

The first quarter of the 2021-2022 school year ended on November 5th, with grades officially released on the 15th. This was the first full in-person quarter since Quarter 2 of the 2019-2020 school year. Nearly 2,300 students are back in LHS, packing the halls and both Commons. 

The first quarter of the year marks a milestone for many students.  For freshmen, this is the first-ever quarter of their high school journey, a four-year experience of laughs, stress, adventure, and more. For seniors, this is another step closer to finishing their college applications. While the early round of college applications ended in early November, the regular round will end early January, three weeks before the second quarter ends. As a senior who was remote for most of school last year, it has been great to be back in person and engage with others face-to-face, an aspect of our social life we lost during the pandemic. The awkward silence we’d have in Zoom breakout rooms is (for the most part) finally gone. We’re finally returning to a sense of normalcy with full in-person learning.

This was a stressful part of the year for all students—especially for seniors. But please remember: whatever your quarter grades are, they do not define you. You may have been 0.05% off an A- or one test question away from getting a better grade. I’ve had my fair share of those moments. The good thing about Quarter 1 is that there are three more quarters to go for you to improve. This isn’t the end of the road. And to my fellow seniors, I say the same thing: colleges will look at you holistically. There is more to you than a quarter grade. You have test scores (if you submitted them); personality and character; extracurricular activities that show who you are outside of just letter grades; and teachers who can speak to who you are as a student. Ultimately, it’s how you spend your time in and after high school that matters most. Making the best of your experience is what matters most.

by HENRY HAN