#K-12problems

Marty spills the deets on how it feels to be part of the pioneer batch of K-12.

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“What’s it like to have to go through the K-12 system?” is a question most K-12 students encounter.

Being part of the pioneer batch of K-12 in the country is pressuring, because unlike regular students who go through the normal four years of high school, my schoolmates and I have to undergo six years. This means that our teachers are constantly expecting us to become more skilled than regular students. 

It’s as if they expect that we can adapt to the drastic changes immediately (even though we also have a hard time understanding the situation). Enduring six years of high school forces not only the students, but the institutions as a whole to comply with the sudden expectations the Department of Education wants for them. In my school, these extra two years, referred to as Senior High School, serve as preparation years for college where academic tracks such as Visual Arts and Humanities are available for us to choose from. 

The new system of education creates inconveniences and frustrates many students and teachers, as well as people uninvolved in the K-12 issue. Many violently react, but I’ve been led to recognize important lessons from these experiences. These reasons might not be applicable to everyone, but they at least clarify what some of us are feeling and experiencing so that those who don’t understand the program can see how this change has affected us.

It’s hard to answer the question: “What year are you in?” 

Some of us might be frank about our grade level, but this is far from the case for K-12 students. We often find ways to skirt through it, usually stating “It’s my nth year in high school” instead of having to explain the whole system or in the worst case, avoid the question altogether. 

Relating to supposed batchmates would often lead to more isolation
Since the system is being implemented differently depending on your school, it is difficult to mingle with Batch 2016 students from other schools when they mention college matters. I once sat with a couple of my friends who kept on ranting about college, and all I could do was nod and change facial expressions as they continued talking.

Students aren’t the only ones to get confused by K-12
If you think teachers can ease their way into discussing the new curriculum, know that it’s not that simple. Teachers also have it hard because discussing lessons not of their specialization may lead them to making errors in checking answers or explaining formulas. In my case, when my friends and I were comparing formulas in our Science class, the inconsistencies complicated the subject’s lessons.

The greener pastures option will have to be put on hold
Escaping the robotic routine of living and breathing the same air of our schools may take longer than expected, but it’s something we K-12 students are willing to go through if it means getting our diplomas and encountering new lessons besides the basic Math and Social Studies.

We have an abundant amount of time to ready our future
Not everyone is ready with the course they want to take in college, myself included.  Even with all the things which have happened in our high school lives, may it be enduring long hours of doing group projects or listening to numerous career talks with notable lawyers, doctors, and designers, the journey to find what will make us fulfilled and stable in the future is still in our hands. The extra two years might seem burdensome, but they also help open more options for college and our careers.

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Although K-12 and its implementation are complex in themselves, maybe all these difficulties are a part of a bigger plan to make us stronger and more hardworking. Above all, I think it also commits us to use all of these experiences in order to better ourselves and even possibly, our own country.

If we’re not completely ready, at least we still have six years in high school to work on it, right?


Article and art by Marty 
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Marty is a peculiar 14-year old who illustrates cartoons and seems to fail at keeping herself sane. Her interests range from dark and eccentric art styles to fluffy and pastel colored animals and objects. Besides the fact she's emotionally unstable, she satisfies herself by reading classics and post-modern books, eating excessive amounts of salty foods, and listens to EDM and indie songs to pass the time.