By David You ’19, Staff Writer

The 7th grade is a great time to chat with friends, do homework and just relax. After starting in 6th grade, many students are custom to the Newark Academy environment. Just another good old year for students, until the 8th grade comes. The 8th grade is a time of leadership, where all the middle schoolers look up to you. One move can affect the whole middle school. From middle school president to just an average 8th grader, the 8th grade is the time where we show the teachers and the students why we are great.

After interviewing ten students, the 7th grade seemed to be ready to become 8th graders. Nine out of the ten interviewees believed that they were ready to lead the middle school. They would do this by becoming friends with the 7th and 6th grade, being an example, showing them what a Newark Academy students should do, follow the rules, telling them how to plan time effectively, being a role model, acting mature in public places, and doing the right thing. There were a variety of answers from the ten interviewees and each person would help the 7th and 6th grade in their own way.

However, the current 7th grade also found challenges they will face when they become an 8th grade leader. One interviewee commented that it would be hard to understand and empathize with the whole middle school. A few interviewees answered that it would be hard to be a role model and stay nature and responsible all the time. This meant doing the right thing and dealing with disobedient children. Another interviewee responded saying there is a lot of responsibility as a leader and that will be difficult. Finally, three people said that there will be no challenges as a leader. These answers add to the diversity of the current 7th grade.

Newark Academy is a great school. Ranging from academics to arts, we have implanted the minds of students with creativity and skills. One of these skills that all ten Newark Academy interviewees believed were true was leadership. They all believed that Newark Academy does a good job getting us ready to become leaders as an 8th grader and beyond.