What do you think?

I was at another middle school today (Thank you, Shafer MS in Bensalem). I was talking to 8th graders, who are just weeks away from being 9th graders. It made me wonder…

Which is harder: middle school or high school?

What do you think? Why?

I’ll give my opinion tomorrow.

138 Replies to “What do you think?”

  1. highschool is a lot harder (in my case). in general i think it’s because kids start going through puberty etc. not to mention college applications and such as you get into 11th grade

  2. highschool is a lot harder (in my case). in general i think it’s because kids start going through puberty etc. not to mention college applications and such as you get into 11th grade

  3. highschool is a lot harder (in my case). in general i think it’s because kids start going through puberty etc. not to mention college applications and such as you get into 11th grade

  4. I agree with –^. I think Middle School is much more difficult. Not only does the work load dramaticaly increase from elementary school, but you go through a lot of social issues trying to figure out which group to hang out with, and what are the right clothes to wear. It is also at this time that you begin to disobey your parents so there is a lot of drama in the household and you begin to feel like you don’t fit in anywhere. Middle School sucks. It always will. Even places where they have K-8 or whatever.. those last two or three years will always be the worst.

    Now, granted, High School isn’t a walk in the park. You now have the added stress of college’s “watching your every move.” Now if you make a mistake everyone is on your back to make sure you don’t do it again. As Allison points out, you also begin serios relationships in High School. But, with relationships comes even more drama(yes, it is possible). Now you have the, well you can’t like him, I just broke up with him stuff.. and the how could you start dating him so quickly after you broke up with the other guy.

    So.. in short. Guys suck. And that’s why High School sucks. And everything sucks about Middle School.

    meredith.

  5. I agree with –^. I think Middle School is much more difficult. Not only does the work load dramaticaly increase from elementary school, but you go through a lot of social issues trying to figure out which group to hang out with, and what are the right clothes to wear. It is also at this time that you begin to disobey your parents so there is a lot of drama in the household and you begin to feel like you don’t fit in anywhere. Middle School sucks. It always will. Even places where they have K-8 or whatever.. those last two or three years will always be the worst.

    Now, granted, High School isn’t a walk in the park. You now have the added stress of college’s “watching your every move.” Now if you make a mistake everyone is on your back to make sure you don’t do it again. As Allison points out, you also begin serios relationships in High School. But, with relationships comes even more drama(yes, it is possible). Now you have the, well you can’t like him, I just broke up with him stuff.. and the how could you start dating him so quickly after you broke up with the other guy.

    So.. in short. Guys suck. And that’s why High School sucks. And everything sucks about Middle School.

    meredith.

  6. I agree with –^. I think Middle School is much more difficult. Not only does the work load dramaticaly increase from elementary school, but you go through a lot of social issues trying to figure out which group to hang out with, and what are the right clothes to wear. It is also at this time that you begin to disobey your parents so there is a lot of drama in the household and you begin to feel like you don’t fit in anywhere. Middle School sucks. It always will. Even places where they have K-8 or whatever.. those last two or three years will always be the worst.

    Now, granted, High School isn’t a walk in the park. You now have the added stress of college’s “watching your every move.” Now if you make a mistake everyone is on your back to make sure you don’t do it again. As Allison points out, you also begin serios relationships in High School. But, with relationships comes even more drama(yes, it is possible). Now you have the, well you can’t like him, I just broke up with him stuff.. and the how could you start dating him so quickly after you broke up with the other guy.

    So.. in short. Guys suck. And that’s why High School sucks. And everything sucks about Middle School.

    meredith.

  7. They’re both definitely hard, in their own special ways. Middle school was a huge adjustment for me, because I was the youngest in my grade… actually, youngest in my school, even in 8th grade. Of course, in high school, I’ve felt like an adult in a prison for children. Then, of course, there’s all the drama and stress in high school… I would say high school is the most difficult, but that’s probably because it’s stressing me right now.
    But it’s all good – 4 weeks ’til graduation!

  8. They’re both definitely hard, in their own special ways. Middle school was a huge adjustment for me, because I was the youngest in my grade… actually, youngest in my school, even in 8th grade. Of course, in high school, I’ve felt like an adult in a prison for children. Then, of course, there’s all the drama and stress in high school… I would say high school is the most difficult, but that’s probably because it’s stressing me right now.
    But it’s all good – 4 weeks ’til graduation!

  9. They’re both definitely hard, in their own special ways. Middle school was a huge adjustment for me, because I was the youngest in my grade… actually, youngest in my school, even in 8th grade. Of course, in high school, I’ve felt like an adult in a prison for children. Then, of course, there’s all the drama and stress in high school… I would say high school is the most difficult, but that’s probably because it’s stressing me right now.
    But it’s all good – 4 weeks ’til graduation!

  10. Another vote for middle. My middle school (aka junior high) was just this side of Alcatraz–and Alcatraz had a better view.

  11. Another vote for middle. My middle school (aka junior high) was just this side of Alcatraz–and Alcatraz had a better view.

  12. Another vote for middle. My middle school (aka junior high) was just this side of Alcatraz–and Alcatraz had a better view.

  13. High School academically-wise, Middle School awkward-stages-wise. While High School is really stressful, I enjoy it a hundred times more than middle school.

  14. High School academically-wise, Middle School awkward-stages-wise. While High School is really stressful, I enjoy it a hundred times more than middle school.

  15. High School academically-wise, Middle School awkward-stages-wise. While High School is really stressful, I enjoy it a hundred times more than middle school.

  16. Middle (junior high). The changes are just so radical. You go from hopscotch to smoking in the girls’ room in zero seconds flat. By high school, you’ve developed your defenses a bit. And at least in my case, high school was a much bigger pond; easier to be a little fish. HS had its own extreme pain and angst and more complexities, but overall it felt less like the whole world was watching and judging me.

  17. Middle (junior high). The changes are just so radical. You go from hopscotch to smoking in the girls’ room in zero seconds flat. By high school, you’ve developed your defenses a bit. And at least in my case, high school was a much bigger pond; easier to be a little fish. HS had its own extreme pain and angst and more complexities, but overall it felt less like the whole world was watching and judging me.

  18. Middle (junior high). The changes are just so radical. You go from hopscotch to smoking in the girls’ room in zero seconds flat. By high school, you’ve developed your defenses a bit. And at least in my case, high school was a much bigger pond; easier to be a little fish. HS had its own extreme pain and angst and more complexities, but overall it felt less like the whole world was watching and judging me.

  19. I think middle school is tougher. It’s such a hazy, inbetween era of a person’s life–still a child in many ways, but beginning the transition to adulthood, and sort of straddling the line between the two. Everyone is self-conscious because of the changes they’re going through, and everyone is watching everyone else to compare and contrast. Social networks start to become all-important, and the sort of playground bullying kids might have experienced in elementary school turns sharper, more cutting, more intentionally cruel. Hormones really are mind-altering substances, and kids that age are just learning how to cope with them. There’s a real turning point that comes in the middle school years, and part of the torture of middle school is that everyone hits that turning point at a different time, so you end up with a huge array of different emotional, physical, and intellectual maturity levels, all thrown together in one small space.

    High school is tough in its own ways–college/career pressures, the stress of being almost-but-not-quite an adult and learning to deal with adult situations, more difficult schoolwork–but I don’t think it compares with middle school for sheer hellishness. Usually, by high school, people are settled into social groups (for better or for worse) and it’s just a matter of muddling through. But it’s middle school that really sets the stage for high school, so if someone has a tough time adjusting there, that probably will carry over. Middle school is about survival; high school is more about success.

    (And speaking as someone who student taught and substitute taught at both the middle school and high school levels, I can say I’ve never felt more mentally and physically exhausted than I have after a day working with seventh and/or eighth graders. They’re a lot of fun in many ways, but often terribly, terribly needy in ways I don’t think they even understand.)

  20. I think middle school is tougher. It’s such a hazy, inbetween era of a person’s life–still a child in many ways, but beginning the transition to adulthood, and sort of straddling the line between the two. Everyone is self-conscious because of the changes they’re going through, and everyone is watching everyone else to compare and contrast. Social networks start to become all-important, and the sort of playground bullying kids might have experienced in elementary school turns sharper, more cutting, more intentionally cruel. Hormones really are mind-altering substances, and kids that age are just learning how to cope with them. There’s a real turning point that comes in the middle school years, and part of the torture of middle school is that everyone hits that turning point at a different time, so you end up with a huge array of different emotional, physical, and intellectual maturity levels, all thrown together in one small space.

    High school is tough in its own ways–college/career pressures, the stress of being almost-but-not-quite an adult and learning to deal with adult situations, more difficult schoolwork–but I don’t think it compares with middle school for sheer hellishness. Usually, by high school, people are settled into social groups (for better or for worse) and it’s just a matter of muddling through. But it’s middle school that really sets the stage for high school, so if someone has a tough time adjusting there, that probably will carry over. Middle school is about survival; high school is more about success.

    (And speaking as someone who student taught and substitute taught at both the middle school and high school levels, I can say I’ve never felt more mentally and physically exhausted than I have after a day working with seventh and/or eighth graders. They’re a lot of fun in many ways, but often terribly, terribly needy in ways I don’t think they even understand.)

  21. I think middle school is tougher. It’s such a hazy, inbetween era of a person’s life–still a child in many ways, but beginning the transition to adulthood, and sort of straddling the line between the two. Everyone is self-conscious because of the changes they’re going through, and everyone is watching everyone else to compare and contrast. Social networks start to become all-important, and the sort of playground bullying kids might have experienced in elementary school turns sharper, more cutting, more intentionally cruel. Hormones really are mind-altering substances, and kids that age are just learning how to cope with them. There’s a real turning point that comes in the middle school years, and part of the torture of middle school is that everyone hits that turning point at a different time, so you end up with a huge array of different emotional, physical, and intellectual maturity levels, all thrown together in one small space.

    High school is tough in its own ways–college/career pressures, the stress of being almost-but-not-quite an adult and learning to deal with adult situations, more difficult schoolwork–but I don’t think it compares with middle school for sheer hellishness. Usually, by high school, people are settled into social groups (for better or for worse) and it’s just a matter of muddling through. But it’s middle school that really sets the stage for high school, so if someone has a tough time adjusting there, that probably will carry over. Middle school is about survival; high school is more about success.

    (And speaking as someone who student taught and substitute taught at both the middle school and high school levels, I can say I’ve never felt more mentally and physically exhausted than I have after a day working with seventh and/or eighth graders. They’re a lot of fun in many ways, but often terribly, terribly needy in ways I don’t think they even understand.)

  22. I think middle school. I seem to remember crying more, feeling more socially isolated, and walking into a lot more tables/chairs/walls(thank you, puberty.) I was taking high school classes in 8th grade, so it wasn’t a huge adjustment academically. In my case it was complicated because I kept moving, and the last years of high school were good in part simply because they were stable.

    Looking back, I realize that it all sucked in comparison to college.

  23. I think middle school. I seem to remember crying more, feeling more socially isolated, and walking into a lot more tables/chairs/walls(thank you, puberty.) I was taking high school classes in 8th grade, so it wasn’t a huge adjustment academically. In my case it was complicated because I kept moving, and the last years of high school were good in part simply because they were stable.

    Looking back, I realize that it all sucked in comparison to college.

  24. I think middle school. I seem to remember crying more, feeling more socially isolated, and walking into a lot more tables/chairs/walls(thank you, puberty.) I was taking high school classes in 8th grade, so it wasn’t a huge adjustment academically. In my case it was complicated because I kept moving, and the last years of high school were good in part simply because they were stable.

    Looking back, I realize that it all sucked in comparison to college.

  25. middle, defiantly.

    because you change soo much through each grade. You also have raging hormones and everything is a big deal. Well most things are big deals and alot of depressing things. I haven’t been to high school yet, but i defiantly think my middle school years were the worst so far. I’ve seen alot this year. I thought all this stuff that happend this year would of been happening in high school. A girl died of suicide all of the sudden and she is probably one of the greatest person that i should of gotten to know. My friend got caught with drugs etc. I mean its just been a big miserable trip that will not stop. I guess i should stop rambling, but middle is very tough,but high school could be even tougher. 🙁

  26. middle, defiantly.

    because you change soo much through each grade. You also have raging hormones and everything is a big deal. Well most things are big deals and alot of depressing things. I haven’t been to high school yet, but i defiantly think my middle school years were the worst so far. I’ve seen alot this year. I thought all this stuff that happend this year would of been happening in high school. A girl died of suicide all of the sudden and she is probably one of the greatest person that i should of gotten to know. My friend got caught with drugs etc. I mean its just been a big miserable trip that will not stop. I guess i should stop rambling, but middle is very tough,but high school could be even tougher. 🙁

  27. middle, defiantly.

    because you change soo much through each grade. You also have raging hormones and everything is a big deal. Well most things are big deals and alot of depressing things. I haven’t been to high school yet, but i defiantly think my middle school years were the worst so far. I’ve seen alot this year. I thought all this stuff that happend this year would of been happening in high school. A girl died of suicide all of the sudden and she is probably one of the greatest person that i should of gotten to know. My friend got caught with drugs etc. I mean its just been a big miserable trip that will not stop. I guess i should stop rambling, but middle is very tough,but high school could be even tougher. 🙁

  28. hey sup? i was really really hoping to send you part of my story sometime… but i don’t have your email… so yea… and if ya don’t remember me… i met you during ur presentation at small… so if you get this let me know!!!!!!! ashley

  29. hey sup? i was really really hoping to send you part of my story sometime… but i don’t have your email… so yea… and if ya don’t remember me… i met you during ur presentation at small… so if you get this let me know!!!!!!! ashley

  30. hey sup? i was really really hoping to send you part of my story sometime… but i don’t have your email… so yea… and if ya don’t remember me… i met you during ur presentation at small… so if you get this let me know!!!!!!! ashley

  31. Amen to that, Lara.

    Everything’s such a switch from single-file elementary lines to free-roaming packs. Crazy. Plus hormones are raging, zits are popping, girls are having meltdowns.

    It’s not a pretty sight.

  32. Amen to that, Lara.

    Everything’s such a switch from single-file elementary lines to free-roaming packs. Crazy. Plus hormones are raging, zits are popping, girls are having meltdowns.

    It’s not a pretty sight.

  33. Amen to that, Lara.

    Everything’s such a switch from single-file elementary lines to free-roaming packs. Crazy. Plus hormones are raging, zits are popping, girls are having meltdowns.

    It’s not a pretty sight.

  34. I’m graduating 8th grade and I don’t know very much about high school. I’m excited and scared of high school because there are going to be a lot of people I don’t know. swimteam is going to interfear with my school work but, I really want to do it! I hate it when I don’t have a lot of time to do homework because then I get really stressed out! I like junior high a lot but high school seems like it is really hard. I like that there is a freshman campus because if we had the older kids with us then I would feel really intimidated. I am excited about making new friends and having cool classes!

  35. I’m graduating 8th grade and I don’t know very much about high school. I’m excited and scared of high school because there are going to be a lot of people I don’t know. swimteam is going to interfear with my school work but, I really want to do it! I hate it when I don’t have a lot of time to do homework because then I get really stressed out! I like junior high a lot but high school seems like it is really hard. I like that there is a freshman campus because if we had the older kids with us then I would feel really intimidated. I am excited about making new friends and having cool classes!

  36. I’m graduating 8th grade and I don’t know very much about high school. I’m excited and scared of high school because there are going to be a lot of people I don’t know. swimteam is going to interfear with my school work but, I really want to do it! I hate it when I don’t have a lot of time to do homework because then I get really stressed out! I like junior high a lot but high school seems like it is really hard. I like that there is a freshman campus because if we had the older kids with us then I would feel really intimidated. I am excited about making new friends and having cool classes!

  37. Middle school. Well, it was junior high for me. I think Anne Lamott says it pretty well in her book Operating Instructions, which I’m reading at the moment:

    “…worse than just about anything else is the agonizing issue of how on earth anyone can bring a child into this world knowing full well that he or she is eventually going to have to go through the seventh and eighth grades.”

  38. Middle school. Well, it was junior high for me. I think Anne Lamott says it pretty well in her book Operating Instructions, which I’m reading at the moment:

    “…worse than just about anything else is the agonizing issue of how on earth anyone can bring a child into this world knowing full well that he or she is eventually going to have to go through the seventh and eighth grades.”

  39. Middle school. Well, it was junior high for me. I think Anne Lamott says it pretty well in her book Operating Instructions, which I’m reading at the moment:

    “…worse than just about anything else is the agonizing issue of how on earth anyone can bring a child into this world knowing full well that he or she is eventually going to have to go through the seventh and eighth grades.”

  40. Middle school, because in high school, people have matured a bit, the hormones have calmed down a little, the teachers respect you more, and you have more freedom.

  41. Middle school, because in high school, people have matured a bit, the hormones have calmed down a little, the teachers respect you more, and you have more freedom.

  42. Middle school, because in high school, people have matured a bit, the hormones have calmed down a little, the teachers respect you more, and you have more freedom.

  43. stuck in the middle

    I think middle is hardest. By hs, if it blows, you can more or less take a walk (graduate early, find some kind of extern program, or completely leave and get a ged). In middle school, you are stuck there, repeating classes and grades …

    none of it is easy, that’s for sure.

  44. stuck in the middle

    I think middle is hardest. By hs, if it blows, you can more or less take a walk (graduate early, find some kind of extern program, or completely leave and get a ged). In middle school, you are stuck there, repeating classes and grades …

    none of it is easy, that’s for sure.

  45. stuck in the middle

    I think middle is hardest. By hs, if it blows, you can more or less take a walk (graduate early, find some kind of extern program, or completely leave and get a ged). In middle school, you are stuck there, repeating classes and grades …

    none of it is easy, that’s for sure.

  46. i am a shafer student

    hello i am the one girl who asked you if you ever cut yourself well i oveously am from shafer middle school and as you see my writting and spelling suck as well, well i was just telling you that i really thought your talking to us was a great thing to dO!!!!! and out of all the speakers we have at shafer i honestly think you were the best because you talk to us like adults, not like we are children like most people so i am just sayign thank you for coming bye bye!!!!!

    Alaina

  47. i am a shafer student

    hello i am the one girl who asked you if you ever cut yourself well i oveously am from shafer middle school and as you see my writting and spelling suck as well, well i was just telling you that i really thought your talking to us was a great thing to dO!!!!! and out of all the speakers we have at shafer i honestly think you were the best because you talk to us like adults, not like we are children like most people so i am just sayign thank you for coming bye bye!!!!!

    Alaina

  48. i am a shafer student

    hello i am the one girl who asked you if you ever cut yourself well i oveously am from shafer middle school and as you see my writting and spelling suck as well, well i was just telling you that i really thought your talking to us was a great thing to dO!!!!! and out of all the speakers we have at shafer i honestly think you were the best because you talk to us like adults, not like we are children like most people so i am just sayign thank you for coming bye bye!!!!!

    Alaina

  49. I would say high school 1)because there are SOO many more people than middle school 2)The work load is awful 3)because there are multiple lunches and you dont get to eat w/ all ur friends

  50. I would say high school 1)because there are SOO many more people than middle school 2)The work load is awful 3)because there are multiple lunches and you dont get to eat w/ all ur friends

  51. I would say high school 1)because there are SOO many more people than middle school 2)The work load is awful 3)because there are multiple lunches and you dont get to eat w/ all ur friends

  52. I’m about to graduate from middle school (which isn’t a graduation in the slightest– just a Big Word they use to make us feel important), and I can agree with everyone else for just that reason. They keep telling us that we have responsibilities, choices, our whole lives ahead of us… and we still have to stick in their stupid black and white lines. If I had the choice to relive these past three years–with the option to do everything differently, I still wouldn’t. I hate middle school. It’s hell on earth.

  53. I’m about to graduate from middle school (which isn’t a graduation in the slightest– just a Big Word they use to make us feel important), and I can agree with everyone else for just that reason. They keep telling us that we have responsibilities, choices, our whole lives ahead of us… and we still have to stick in their stupid black and white lines. If I had the choice to relive these past three years–with the option to do everything differently, I still wouldn’t. I hate middle school. It’s hell on earth.

  54. I’m about to graduate from middle school (which isn’t a graduation in the slightest– just a Big Word they use to make us feel important), and I can agree with everyone else for just that reason. They keep telling us that we have responsibilities, choices, our whole lives ahead of us… and we still have to stick in their stupid black and white lines. If I had the choice to relive these past three years–with the option to do everything differently, I still wouldn’t. I hate middle school. It’s hell on earth.

  55. Laurie, my name is Daniella and i am currently doing a research report about my favorite author which just happens to be you for my english class. I love all your books, and i was exstatic about finding your lj. Just wanted to say hi, and was wondering if u would add me
    hope to talk to you later and learn much more about your facsinating life
    ~Daniella
    oh and p.s. highschool is much harder, the academics and all…

  56. Laurie, my name is Daniella and i am currently doing a research report about my favorite author which just happens to be you for my english class. I love all your books, and i was exstatic about finding your lj. Just wanted to say hi, and was wondering if u would add me
    hope to talk to you later and learn much more about your facsinating life
    ~Daniella
    oh and p.s. highschool is much harder, the academics and all…

  57. Laurie, my name is Daniella and i am currently doing a research report about my favorite author which just happens to be you for my english class. I love all your books, and i was exstatic about finding your lj. Just wanted to say hi, and was wondering if u would add me
    hope to talk to you later and learn much more about your facsinating life
    ~Daniella
    oh and p.s. highschool is much harder, the academics and all…

  58. Thanks for the interest, Daniella. The first thing you should do is to spend a couple hours on my website – there is tons of info there – esp on the About Me pages. If you have any questions after reading through that, post them here and I’d be happy to answer.

  59. Thanks for the interest, Daniella. The first thing you should do is to spend a couple hours on my website – there is tons of info there – esp on the About Me pages. If you have any questions after reading through that, post them here and I’d be happy to answer.

  60. Thanks for the interest, Daniella. The first thing you should do is to spend a couple hours on my website – there is tons of info there – esp on the About Me pages. If you have any questions after reading through that, post them here and I’d be happy to answer.

  61. high school is way more stressful. i think middle school was a walk in the park. but in some ways, i see middle schoolers on the bus and they are so out of control and crazy compared to most high schoolers.

  62. high school is way more stressful. i think middle school was a walk in the park. but in some ways, i see middle schoolers on the bus and they are so out of control and crazy compared to most high schoolers.

  63. high school is way more stressful. i think middle school was a walk in the park. but in some ways, i see middle schoolers on the bus and they are so out of control and crazy compared to most high schoolers.

  64. Middle school, absolutely, no question about it. Middle school was so bad, my mind has censored it. I actually have a big blank space for 6th-8th grade. Everything that happened is gone.

    Except for a few random memories, which always pop up when I least expect it and reduce me to tears.

    In high school, at least, nonconformity is acceptable. But the cookie-cutter mentality of middle school–which, in my opinion, has a lot to do with the school itself–combined with hormones, puberty, and painful bouts of self-awareness, make middle school so much worse than anything else.

    I have actually met people who liked middle school. I have never been able to respect them, or even be very civil towards them.

  65. Middle school, absolutely, no question about it. Middle school was so bad, my mind has censored it. I actually have a big blank space for 6th-8th grade. Everything that happened is gone.

    Except for a few random memories, which always pop up when I least expect it and reduce me to tears.

    In high school, at least, nonconformity is acceptable. But the cookie-cutter mentality of middle school–which, in my opinion, has a lot to do with the school itself–combined with hormones, puberty, and painful bouts of self-awareness, make middle school so much worse than anything else.

    I have actually met people who liked middle school. I have never been able to respect them, or even be very civil towards them.

  66. Middle school, absolutely, no question about it. Middle school was so bad, my mind has censored it. I actually have a big blank space for 6th-8th grade. Everything that happened is gone.

    Except for a few random memories, which always pop up when I least expect it and reduce me to tears.

    In high school, at least, nonconformity is acceptable. But the cookie-cutter mentality of middle school–which, in my opinion, has a lot to do with the school itself–combined with hormones, puberty, and painful bouts of self-awareness, make middle school so much worse than anything else.

    I have actually met people who liked middle school. I have never been able to respect them, or even be very civil towards them.

  67. well the workload in high school is obviously harder, but thats the only reason. middle school was hard in it’s own right because you are in a really awkward stage, and you have to deal with popularity and puberty and all this stuff.

  68. well the workload in high school is obviously harder, but thats the only reason. middle school was hard in it’s own right because you are in a really awkward stage, and you have to deal with popularity and puberty and all this stuff.

  69. well the workload in high school is obviously harder, but thats the only reason. middle school was hard in it’s own right because you are in a really awkward stage, and you have to deal with popularity and puberty and all this stuff.

  70. academically, high school takes the cake. between juggling band, drumline and APs, there’s no ‘relax time’.

    but socially, it is so incredibly much better. and yes, that didn’t make sense. but in HS, you end up hanging out with people who have the same interests as you.. all the track kids hang out together, and the tennis boys tend to date the tennis girls.. even just look at the band kids! middle school was really difficult socially because there are no activities or clubs to unite people and it gets really clique-y, especially with the girls. hormones start raging, girls transition from ‘girls 14-16’ to ‘juniors’.. well you know how it is.

    so i definitely think middle school was harder.

  71. academically, high school takes the cake. between juggling band, drumline and APs, there’s no ‘relax time’.

    but socially, it is so incredibly much better. and yes, that didn’t make sense. but in HS, you end up hanging out with people who have the same interests as you.. all the track kids hang out together, and the tennis boys tend to date the tennis girls.. even just look at the band kids! middle school was really difficult socially because there are no activities or clubs to unite people and it gets really clique-y, especially with the girls. hormones start raging, girls transition from ‘girls 14-16’ to ‘juniors’.. well you know how it is.

    so i definitely think middle school was harder.

  72. academically, high school takes the cake. between juggling band, drumline and APs, there’s no ‘relax time’.

    but socially, it is so incredibly much better. and yes, that didn’t make sense. but in HS, you end up hanging out with people who have the same interests as you.. all the track kids hang out together, and the tennis boys tend to date the tennis girls.. even just look at the band kids! middle school was really difficult socially because there are no activities or clubs to unite people and it gets really clique-y, especially with the girls. hormones start raging, girls transition from ‘girls 14-16’ to ‘juniors’.. well you know how it is.

    so i definitely think middle school was harder.

  73. Thanks

    Hey. I dunno which one ( middle or high) would be harder… right now Im only in 8th… but I think High school is gonna be a lot more harder. By the way, your presentation at Shafer MS ( bensalem ) was great. I noticed things about the book I never even knew about. I cant wait for the movie of Speak to come out… even though i dont get showtime…. but you said that they had plans to get put out on DVD… so I’ll probabally see it sometime…. Thanks again

    Steve W.

  74. Thanks

    Hey. I dunno which one ( middle or high) would be harder… right now Im only in 8th… but I think High school is gonna be a lot more harder. By the way, your presentation at Shafer MS ( bensalem ) was great. I noticed things about the book I never even knew about. I cant wait for the movie of Speak to come out… even though i dont get showtime…. but you said that they had plans to get put out on DVD… so I’ll probabally see it sometime…. Thanks again

    Steve W.

  75. Thanks

    Hey. I dunno which one ( middle or high) would be harder… right now Im only in 8th… but I think High school is gonna be a lot more harder. By the way, your presentation at Shafer MS ( bensalem ) was great. I noticed things about the book I never even knew about. I cant wait for the movie of Speak to come out… even though i dont get showtime…. but you said that they had plans to get put out on DVD… so I’ll probabally see it sometime…. Thanks again

    Steve W.

  76. Wow.

    Are you serious? High school by far! I wish I could go back to middle school! Actually, I went to a Private school for 8 years so I guess my expirience was different, but high school is so much tougher. You have to get new friends, and in my case I had really bad ones for the first 2 years who got me into big trouble, and homework, erg…DEFINETLY high school.

  77. Wow.

    Are you serious? High school by far! I wish I could go back to middle school! Actually, I went to a Private school for 8 years so I guess my expirience was different, but high school is so much tougher. You have to get new friends, and in my case I had really bad ones for the first 2 years who got me into big trouble, and homework, erg…DEFINETLY high school.

  78. Wow.

    Are you serious? High school by far! I wish I could go back to middle school! Actually, I went to a Private school for 8 years so I guess my expirience was different, but high school is so much tougher. You have to get new friends, and in my case I had really bad ones for the first 2 years who got me into big trouble, and homework, erg…DEFINETLY high school.

  79. Hi, I added your journal to my friendslist a few weeks ago because I was curious about what you’re like. I just finished a literary interpretation class that began with discussions about postmodernism like “The Author Is Dead” and stuff, and I made it a project of mine to read blogs and see how the authors there differ from what I made up in my head about them. I’m studying to be a children’s librarian, eventually, because they’re among the coolest people on earth. And Speak has partly inspired me to write about my experiences with Social Anxiety, because I’ve seen how your book has helped so many girls who were having similar problems to Melinda’s, and I’d like to help the ones with Social Anxiety in a similar way. I guess you hear this a lot, though!

    Anyway, I like reading about the places you go on your booktours. You seem like a really awesome lady, and it must be neat to get to visit so many bookstores and libraries, even if the travel is exhausting.

    As to middle and high school, I found high school to be much more difficult. My middle school was part of a K-8 Catholic school, so we all had known each other since kindergarten, for the most part. Everyone knew I was weird and I had always been weird, but since we knew each other, it wasn’t a big deal. In high school, though, my weirdness (having social anxiety and asperger’s syndrome) caused me a lot of distress because there were over a thousand other people that I had to see everyday and I didn’t know everyone, even if I recognized faces, and it was too easy for other people to ignore me or pick on me for my weirdness. Plus, all the talk about sex and drugs and parties and alcohol and dating flew right over my head and I got laughed at for that, even though I was top in my classes and fairly smart. I just didn’t have the right kind of smart – in fact, I felt and still feel that the only reason people hung out with me was so they could copy my test answers or homework, which I gladly allowed them to do so I could have friends. In middle school, knowing everyone for so long kept this from happening, and people were friendly with me because they grew up with me.

    Keri, 20

  80. Hi, I added your journal to my friendslist a few weeks ago because I was curious about what you’re like. I just finished a literary interpretation class that began with discussions about postmodernism like “The Author Is Dead” and stuff, and I made it a project of mine to read blogs and see how the authors there differ from what I made up in my head about them. I’m studying to be a children’s librarian, eventually, because they’re among the coolest people on earth. And Speak has partly inspired me to write about my experiences with Social Anxiety, because I’ve seen how your book has helped so many girls who were having similar problems to Melinda’s, and I’d like to help the ones with Social Anxiety in a similar way. I guess you hear this a lot, though!

    Anyway, I like reading about the places you go on your booktours. You seem like a really awesome lady, and it must be neat to get to visit so many bookstores and libraries, even if the travel is exhausting.

    As to middle and high school, I found high school to be much more difficult. My middle school was part of a K-8 Catholic school, so we all had known each other since kindergarten, for the most part. Everyone knew I was weird and I had always been weird, but since we knew each other, it wasn’t a big deal. In high school, though, my weirdness (having social anxiety and asperger’s syndrome) caused me a lot of distress because there were over a thousand other people that I had to see everyday and I didn’t know everyone, even if I recognized faces, and it was too easy for other people to ignore me or pick on me for my weirdness. Plus, all the talk about sex and drugs and parties and alcohol and dating flew right over my head and I got laughed at for that, even though I was top in my classes and fairly smart. I just didn’t have the right kind of smart – in fact, I felt and still feel that the only reason people hung out with me was so they could copy my test answers or homework, which I gladly allowed them to do so I could have friends. In middle school, knowing everyone for so long kept this from happening, and people were friendly with me because they grew up with me.

    Keri, 20

  81. Hi, I added your journal to my friendslist a few weeks ago because I was curious about what you’re like. I just finished a literary interpretation class that began with discussions about postmodernism like “The Author Is Dead” and stuff, and I made it a project of mine to read blogs and see how the authors there differ from what I made up in my head about them. I’m studying to be a children’s librarian, eventually, because they’re among the coolest people on earth. And Speak has partly inspired me to write about my experiences with Social Anxiety, because I’ve seen how your book has helped so many girls who were having similar problems to Melinda’s, and I’d like to help the ones with Social Anxiety in a similar way. I guess you hear this a lot, though!

    Anyway, I like reading about the places you go on your booktours. You seem like a really awesome lady, and it must be neat to get to visit so many bookstores and libraries, even if the travel is exhausting.

    As to middle and high school, I found high school to be much more difficult. My middle school was part of a K-8 Catholic school, so we all had known each other since kindergarten, for the most part. Everyone knew I was weird and I had always been weird, but since we knew each other, it wasn’t a big deal. In high school, though, my weirdness (having social anxiety and asperger’s syndrome) caused me a lot of distress because there were over a thousand other people that I had to see everyday and I didn’t know everyone, even if I recognized faces, and it was too easy for other people to ignore me or pick on me for my weirdness. Plus, all the talk about sex and drugs and parties and alcohol and dating flew right over my head and I got laughed at for that, even though I was top in my classes and fairly smart. I just didn’t have the right kind of smart – in fact, I felt and still feel that the only reason people hung out with me was so they could copy my test answers or homework, which I gladly allowed them to do so I could have friends. In middle school, knowing everyone for so long kept this from happening, and people were friendly with me because they grew up with me.

    Keri, 20

  82. Traditionally, high school, but for me personally, middle school. Totally. At least in high school when you get hurt, you have learned how to pretend you haven’t. In grade school, your emotions are right out there for everyone to see, like it or not. But your friends are better in high school, too. You get more freedom, and that freedom is usually spent with them, forming bonds that aren’t easily broken. For me, anyway.

  83. Traditionally, high school, but for me personally, middle school. Totally. At least in high school when you get hurt, you have learned how to pretend you haven’t. In grade school, your emotions are right out there for everyone to see, like it or not. But your friends are better in high school, too. You get more freedom, and that freedom is usually spent with them, forming bonds that aren’t easily broken. For me, anyway.

  84. Traditionally, high school, but for me personally, middle school. Totally. At least in high school when you get hurt, you have learned how to pretend you haven’t. In grade school, your emotions are right out there for everyone to see, like it or not. But your friends are better in high school, too. You get more freedom, and that freedom is usually spent with them, forming bonds that aren’t easily broken. For me, anyway.

  85. i would say middle school. there was so much drama. you’re separated from the elementary kids yet kept away from the intimidating high schoolers. horomones are everywhere. you’re first introduced into gossip, cliques, and the drama that comes with having a crush on someone. i think middle school is a time where groups (such as the nerds, jocks, popular kids, etc) are really apparent whereas highschool, you stick to your own group of friends that aren’t really categorized.

  86. i would say middle school. there was so much drama. you’re separated from the elementary kids yet kept away from the intimidating high schoolers. horomones are everywhere. you’re first introduced into gossip, cliques, and the drama that comes with having a crush on someone. i think middle school is a time where groups (such as the nerds, jocks, popular kids, etc) are really apparent whereas highschool, you stick to your own group of friends that aren’t really categorized.

  87. i would say middle school. there was so much drama. you’re separated from the elementary kids yet kept away from the intimidating high schoolers. horomones are everywhere. you’re first introduced into gossip, cliques, and the drama that comes with having a crush on someone. i think middle school is a time where groups (such as the nerds, jocks, popular kids, etc) are really apparent whereas highschool, you stick to your own group of friends that aren’t really categorized.

  88. I think high school is actually harder, but middle school introduces you to many of the issues of high school and takes part of the shock out of it, so it seems more dramatic at the time.

    But then again, 13 is the age I would never go back to…so I may have to rethink my vote…

  89. I think high school is actually harder, but middle school introduces you to many of the issues of high school and takes part of the shock out of it, so it seems more dramatic at the time.

    But then again, 13 is the age I would never go back to…so I may have to rethink my vote…

  90. I think high school is actually harder, but middle school introduces you to many of the issues of high school and takes part of the shock out of it, so it seems more dramatic at the time.

    But then again, 13 is the age I would never go back to…so I may have to rethink my vote…

  91. you were just at our school until about 9 minutes ago. Thanks for coming! I think middle school is harder because you’re just becoming a teenager and no one knows how to act around each other and it’s when all the pressure is just starting, so it all gets pretty hectic

  92. you were just at our school until about 9 minutes ago. Thanks for coming! I think middle school is harder because you’re just becoming a teenager and no one knows how to act around each other and it’s when all the pressure is just starting, so it all gets pretty hectic

  93. you were just at our school until about 9 minutes ago. Thanks for coming! I think middle school is harder because you’re just becoming a teenager and no one knows how to act around each other and it’s when all the pressure is just starting, so it all gets pretty hectic

  94. Middle school. Simply because the level of cruelty is so much higher. (Though I actually found elementary school worse than either of these–but I suspect that’s unusual.)

  95. Middle school. Simply because the level of cruelty is so much higher. (Though I actually found elementary school worse than either of these–but I suspect that’s unusual.)

  96. Middle school. Simply because the level of cruelty is so much higher. (Though I actually found elementary school worse than either of these–but I suspect that’s unusual.)

  97. for me, jr high was way worse. in h.s. i found “my place” with the writer-artsy types. in jr high you’re dealing with all kinds of freaky stuff, like getting your period. (For some reason, it was taboo for girls in my jr high to bring purses to school–everyone would know you had your period), so you had to sneak around your huge bulky pads. (I brought mine in brown lunch sacks and then would sneak to my locker…god, they didn’t even have skinny tampons, etc. then.) And don’t you remember that all the kids all grew at diffferent rates? The guys were still so short and scrawny…some kids looked like adults and some looked like elementary school babies. And, emotionally, too, everyone was all over the place. And the teachers were much harder than in grade school, and there were locker combinations to learn, and all those new kids…ugh! Never again!

  98. for me, jr high was way worse. in h.s. i found “my place” with the writer-artsy types. in jr high you’re dealing with all kinds of freaky stuff, like getting your period. (For some reason, it was taboo for girls in my jr high to bring purses to school–everyone would know you had your period), so you had to sneak around your huge bulky pads. (I brought mine in brown lunch sacks and then would sneak to my locker…god, they didn’t even have skinny tampons, etc. then.) And don’t you remember that all the kids all grew at diffferent rates? The guys were still so short and scrawny…some kids looked like adults and some looked like elementary school babies. And, emotionally, too, everyone was all over the place. And the teachers were much harder than in grade school, and there were locker combinations to learn, and all those new kids…ugh! Never again!

  99. for me, jr high was way worse. in h.s. i found “my place” with the writer-artsy types. in jr high you’re dealing with all kinds of freaky stuff, like getting your period. (For some reason, it was taboo for girls in my jr high to bring purses to school–everyone would know you had your period), so you had to sneak around your huge bulky pads. (I brought mine in brown lunch sacks and then would sneak to my locker…god, they didn’t even have skinny tampons, etc. then.) And don’t you remember that all the kids all grew at diffferent rates? The guys were still so short and scrawny…some kids looked like adults and some looked like elementary school babies. And, emotionally, too, everyone was all over the place. And the teachers were much harder than in grade school, and there were locker combinations to learn, and all those new kids…ugh! Never again!

  100. Middle School

    I’m not totally sure if I’m totally qualified to choose one of these as the harder, as I am in the 7th grade, but Middle School is totally hard. I mean, in the past month I’ve gone through rejection from the guy I like, my friend and her boyfriend have broken up, I’ve humiliated myself, walked myself into countless insults, failed math, barely passed spanish, gotten into not one, but two fights with my best friend, and done a ridiculous amount of homework. Beat that.

  101. Middle School

    I’m not totally sure if I’m totally qualified to choose one of these as the harder, as I am in the 7th grade, but Middle School is totally hard. I mean, in the past month I’ve gone through rejection from the guy I like, my friend and her boyfriend have broken up, I’ve humiliated myself, walked myself into countless insults, failed math, barely passed spanish, gotten into not one, but two fights with my best friend, and done a ridiculous amount of homework. Beat that.

  102. Middle School

    I’m not totally sure if I’m totally qualified to choose one of these as the harder, as I am in the 7th grade, but Middle School is totally hard. I mean, in the past month I’ve gone through rejection from the guy I like, my friend and her boyfriend have broken up, I’ve humiliated myself, walked myself into countless insults, failed math, barely passed spanish, gotten into not one, but two fights with my best friend, and done a ridiculous amount of homework. Beat that.

  103. They were different for me. In middle school gym class was worse than in high school because we were beginning to hit puberty and everything suddenly became about gender and living in these confining gender roles (to which were attached annoyingly straight sexuality expectations). I got bullied a lot and it made me feel terrible. The classes also weren’t very stimulating. I did like the dances though! I went wild at those… talk about aerobic exercise.

    High school was longer and far more complex and challenging. I came out in high school, but had the shelter of the music department and drama club to keep me safe and with people who were understanding… I still felt weird and estranged, but I learned a lot about myself. In a sense I can’t speak to a typical high school experience because I distanced myself from a lot of the typical rights of passage (like “Prom”) because they didn’t openly include gay relationships or feelings. It was tough after I came out to my parents too, and so I was just glad to leave the school… But classes were stimulating in high school more so than middle school. The dances however, were bad. I missed those middle school sock-hops a lot in high school.

    Anyway, that’s my input! 🙂

  104. They were different for me. In middle school gym class was worse than in high school because we were beginning to hit puberty and everything suddenly became about gender and living in these confining gender roles (to which were attached annoyingly straight sexuality expectations). I got bullied a lot and it made me feel terrible. The classes also weren’t very stimulating. I did like the dances though! I went wild at those… talk about aerobic exercise.

    High school was longer and far more complex and challenging. I came out in high school, but had the shelter of the music department and drama club to keep me safe and with people who were understanding… I still felt weird and estranged, but I learned a lot about myself. In a sense I can’t speak to a typical high school experience because I distanced myself from a lot of the typical rights of passage (like “Prom”) because they didn’t openly include gay relationships or feelings. It was tough after I came out to my parents too, and so I was just glad to leave the school… But classes were stimulating in high school more so than middle school. The dances however, were bad. I missed those middle school sock-hops a lot in high school.

    Anyway, that’s my input! 🙂

  105. They were different for me. In middle school gym class was worse than in high school because we were beginning to hit puberty and everything suddenly became about gender and living in these confining gender roles (to which were attached annoyingly straight sexuality expectations). I got bullied a lot and it made me feel terrible. The classes also weren’t very stimulating. I did like the dances though! I went wild at those… talk about aerobic exercise.

    High school was longer and far more complex and challenging. I came out in high school, but had the shelter of the music department and drama club to keep me safe and with people who were understanding… I still felt weird and estranged, but I learned a lot about myself. In a sense I can’t speak to a typical high school experience because I distanced myself from a lot of the typical rights of passage (like “Prom”) because they didn’t openly include gay relationships or feelings. It was tough after I came out to my parents too, and so I was just glad to leave the school… But classes were stimulating in high school more so than middle school. The dances however, were bad. I missed those middle school sock-hops a lot in high school.

    Anyway, that’s my input! 🙂

  106. Middle school by far… in middle school, students are still trying to figure out all the changes that are going on, and they’re very unsure of who they are and how to relate to others. My experience– and everyone I’ve ever talked to — has been that middle school was the worst time of my/our lives. In high school, students are still cruel, but they’ve had time for some self-reflection, which makes them less insecure, and thus leads to less taunting/peer pressure/etc etc.

  107. Middle school by far… in middle school, students are still trying to figure out all the changes that are going on, and they’re very unsure of who they are and how to relate to others. My experience– and everyone I’ve ever talked to — has been that middle school was the worst time of my/our lives. In high school, students are still cruel, but they’ve had time for some self-reflection, which makes them less insecure, and thus leads to less taunting/peer pressure/etc etc.

  108. Middle school by far… in middle school, students are still trying to figure out all the changes that are going on, and they’re very unsure of who they are and how to relate to others. My experience– and everyone I’ve ever talked to — has been that middle school was the worst time of my/our lives. In high school, students are still cruel, but they’ve had time for some self-reflection, which makes them less insecure, and thus leads to less taunting/peer pressure/etc etc.

  109. OMG…GYM CLASS!

    I’d blanked this out until reading fal126’s post. We had to wear *gymsuits* in junior high pe. Boys got to wear t-shirts and shorts, but girls—who the hell knows why—were forced to wear *shudders* one-piece jumpers (fairly short shorts and top one piece thingy, kind of like a wrestler’s outfit, with snaps over the shoulder or in the crotch, I can’t remember. They were bright orange, with “slimming” (HA HA!) white vertical stripes. And they were (I can barely get this out, I’m so traumatized) polyester double knit! Even the pretty girls looked horrible. That’s why Paula Danziger’s “The Cat Ate My Gymsuit” really resonated with me.

  110. OMG…GYM CLASS!

    I’d blanked this out until reading fal126’s post. We had to wear *gymsuits* in junior high pe. Boys got to wear t-shirts and shorts, but girls—who the hell knows why—were forced to wear *shudders* one-piece jumpers (fairly short shorts and top one piece thingy, kind of like a wrestler’s outfit, with snaps over the shoulder or in the crotch, I can’t remember. They were bright orange, with “slimming” (HA HA!) white vertical stripes. And they were (I can barely get this out, I’m so traumatized) polyester double knit! Even the pretty girls looked horrible. That’s why Paula Danziger’s “The Cat Ate My Gymsuit” really resonated with me.

  111. OMG…GYM CLASS!

    I’d blanked this out until reading fal126’s post. We had to wear *gymsuits* in junior high pe. Boys got to wear t-shirts and shorts, but girls—who the hell knows why—were forced to wear *shudders* one-piece jumpers (fairly short shorts and top one piece thingy, kind of like a wrestler’s outfit, with snaps over the shoulder or in the crotch, I can’t remember. They were bright orange, with “slimming” (HA HA!) white vertical stripes. And they were (I can barely get this out, I’m so traumatized) polyester double knit! Even the pretty girls looked horrible. That’s why Paula Danziger’s “The Cat Ate My Gymsuit” really resonated with me.

  112. middle school

    The kids were much meaner and I was under much more parental control in areas such as clothes and having friends over that made me really uncool.

  113. middle school

    The kids were much meaner and I was under much more parental control in areas such as clothes and having friends over that made me really uncool.

  114. middle school

    The kids were much meaner and I was under much more parental control in areas such as clothes and having friends over that made me really uncool.

  115. middle school

    I know this post is a little late, but what the heck. 🙂

    Definitely middle school. As everyone said, hormones are raging in middle school, all of the girls (including me) start crying in the middle of class, you’re trying to fit into a group of friends, you’re very self-concious, and you’re always wondering what other people think of you. It’s hard.

  116. middle school

    I know this post is a little late, but what the heck. 🙂

    Definitely middle school. As everyone said, hormones are raging in middle school, all of the girls (including me) start crying in the middle of class, you’re trying to fit into a group of friends, you’re very self-concious, and you’re always wondering what other people think of you. It’s hard.

  117. middle school

    I know this post is a little late, but what the heck. 🙂

    Definitely middle school. As everyone said, hormones are raging in middle school, all of the girls (including me) start crying in the middle of class, you’re trying to fit into a group of friends, you’re very self-concious, and you’re always wondering what other people think of you. It’s hard.

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