By Eden ’25
When I applied to Harvard-Westlake, I was intimidated by the prospect of having to schedule meetings with my teachers on my own, having to manage a busy schedule full of tests, homework, and sports, and keeping up with my friends. Now, three years later, I have learned many things throughout my experiences that have helped significantly to be successful at this school.
First, it is crucial to have a solid organizational system. As a Harvard-Westlake student, it is very likely that you are managing school as well as athletics or other extracurriculars, so it is very important that you have a planner or a calendar to make sure you are prepared for all of your upcoming events. I remember after about two months of being in school being shocked and overwhelmed with the amount of assessments and projects that I had due at the same time. Once I utilized my planner, I became much more organized and it was easier to manage due dates and stay on track.
Additionally, it is important to always plan ahead so you have enough time to complete all of your assignments as well as leaving you enough time to study for tests and quizzes. Planning ahead is imperative for making sure that you don’t get overwhelmed.
Third, it is important to meet with your teachers regularly especially before assessments to make sure that you are as prepared as possible and keeping up with the course. Meeting with your teacher can also give you some more insight into the material and give you a better and deeper understanding of what you are learning.
Next, it is very important to know your schedule and your classes to be prepared at all times so you don’t get overwhelmed by the busy days at Harvard-Westlake. Before the school year begins, I would recommend memorizing your schedule and knowing the location of your locker as well as your classrooms so on the first day you are not overwhelmed by the impressive campus. I always go to campus a few days before the first day of school and walk to all of my classes so I know how to get there and won’t be late!
In addition to knowing the location of your classrooms, it is important to be prepared for class on time with your due assignments and all of the materials needed to be successful in that class. This will help to make your experience at Harvard-Westlake easier and stress-free.
Similarly, to be as prepared as possible, it is important to use all of your free periods wisely. It is known that teachers at Harvard-Westlake will often assign homework and it can sometimes feel daunting. To avoid that problem, I would recommend spending some of your free periods in the library or in a quiet spot where you can focus and get some of your work done. This will help you not get overwhelmed and have a much easier time managing your workload.
Finally, I would suggest trying everything that interests you at Harvard-Westlake to find your passion and something that you love. We are so lucky to go to a school that has so many things to try in terms of athletics, clubs, electives and so many opportunities. If any of those things interest you at all, I would suggest at least just trying it because you might find something that you love.
In conclusion, I think that Harvard-Westlake can be very manageable as long as you find ways to manage your time wisely and stay on top of things.
