To help former middle school students transition into high school, quickly adapt to their new environment, and gain a clear understanding of the academic requirements and beyond, SHSID set up a high school life guidance course for the incoming high school freshmen. The back-to-school activities on August 30st acted as a great kickoff for the week. On this day, freshmen greeted their new homeroom teachers and classmates for the first time and, more importantly, received a comprehensive understanding of high school life.

At two o'clock in the afternoon, XMT Annex was filled with people waiting for the ninth grade director, Ms. Wu Chen, to provide a general introduction to high school life. Ms. Wu made a detailed and direct speech on aspects such asstudy, curriculum, performance, activity, competition, and behavior to lend a varied perspective and help students develop clear expectations. Closely after Ms. Wu’s speech, SHSID’s college counselor, Ms. Cui, introduced another topic that is of students' great concern—university enrollment. On this topic, Ms. Cui put forward plans and suggestions for all four years of high school, taught the students how to use relevant information to finish university applications more efficiently, and provided an abundant amount of resources to help students and parents retrieve more university information. The ninth graders listened attentively and jotted down notes from time to time so they would not miss any detail.

The arrival of high school senior representatives was well received by the lively audience. Fellow high school students shared their personal stories about study habits, choosing classes, time management, exam preparation, and personal interest development. After the final question and answer session, many students were still fully immersed in the speeches presented beforehand. Though the first period of the High School Launch Lesson has come to an end, it marks the beginning of high school life. The passionate and inspired students will work towards their dreams in this exciting new year.

(Written by: Liu Jialong Pictures by: Xu Jin)