First, a Formatting Note...
I’m going to try my best to order these subjects, not in relevance – but more of chronological order to how these subjects will come into your TJ life and affect you. I’ll be more specific as to what I mean about that in each individual tab.
Also, for each subject I plan on doing a general intro, listing a few important events/clubs/sports (whatever) and giving a few details for each, and then answering (what I think are) the most important questions. At the end I’ll give my advice/thoughts.
I’m going to try my best to order these subjects, not in relevance – but more of chronological order to how these subjects will come into your TJ life and affect you. I’ll be more specific as to what I mean about that in each individual tab.
Also, for each subject I plan on doing a general intro, listing a few important events/clubs/sports (whatever) and giving a few details for each, and then answering (what I think are) the most important questions. At the end I’ll give my advice/thoughts.
What TJ is All About
This is probably the first thing you should know when you start thinking about applying to this school. The whole admissions process, believe me, gets really crazy – and you want to be at least a good 75% sure you’d like to go before you enter your name and click start. I for one, was not one of those people. In fact, for most of my middle school days, up until maybe the last two-ish months of eighth grade, hated even the thought of TJ. I disliked the idea of having to take a test to go, being separated from your friends, focusing on the SCIENCES (yay art people), and (worst of all) all the work that TJ ensued.
My idea of TJ was a bunch of lifeless nerds sitting in a classroom, unable to interact with each other, and whom didn’t know the first thing about music or painting or literature. I believed the teachers to all be about as qualified as baby-sitters, knowing only how to handle children, but nothing of the subject they were hired to teach. I thought the classes to be all revolving around math and science and technology (urban legend: the bathroom graffiti at TJ was math problems) (another urban legend: the quote unquote “art classes” would teach you all about mathematical proportions and angles in drawing). I also thought (heh, this is where it gets awkward guys) that there wouldn’t be any good looking people (we’re talking BOTH genders here), because in my mind knowing a lot of science-y things meant you didn’t know anything about fashion…or grooming…or hygiene?
REALITY CHECK!! I cannot describe the people at TJ being anything but really (surprisingly) COOL people that also happen to be smart. We’ve got the art geeks who know how to program, the book nerds who know all about derivatives, the music freaks with that uncanny ability to fix your computer, and the class clown science noobs (and all the mixes in between). We’ve got really smart people, we’ve got really dumb people – talented, funny, ugly, beautiful, crazy, sane (no not really), tall, short, athletic, strange, etc. etc. etc. It’s your average high school with a slightly higher average GPA.
The teachers – well from what I hear, they are quite good, actually, or at least some of them are. Some are everything I’d thought they be, but some couldn’t be more different. You have the teachers everybody kind of hates, and the ones you wish you had for every class. It’s a good mix.
TJ’s arts program is quite awesome. Their music is three thumbs up, their drama program is award-winning. Their art classes…I have yet to find out, but I’m sure it’s great as well. As for you writing geeks, do not even think twice about it. Part of being a smarticle particle is being okay-insanely good at grammar and plot and blah blah blah. And I’d say TJ’s creativity is unlike any other.
Even the workload is exaggerated (by how much, that’s a different story). Freshmen year, most people can get a good 8 hours of sleep in, if (AND THIS IS IMPORTANT) you can manage your time. But of course, you have to factor in things like sports, clubs, and extra curriculars to the mix as well. High school is just a busy time. One thing I didn’t understand, but I think I should’ve, is that TJ isn’t the only one like this. If you choose to go to your base high school instead, life won’t be that much easier or different. High school is a big step up from middle school, and only a small step from college – the workload is definitely heavier, the commitment is definitely there. Regardless of where you go, you will feel the pressure.
LET IT BE KNOWN, THOUGH, that there are PUH-LENTY of downfalls to going to TJ. Because it is one of the only non-region-based high schools, you’ll meet people from all over. Not only might it take really long to get there, but it will also be quite difficult to find people that live near you to carpool with (especially for things like specific sports and clubs). (“Hey dad, can you leave work early every Monday through Thursday for the next four weeks to send me to cheer practice 45 minutes away? K Thanks bye!”)
Another thing is that people are a lot smarter at TJ. The competition is fierce – no matter what subject you are good at. Want to be debate captain? Good luck. Class president? Wish you the best! Valedictorian? LOL>may the odds be ever in your favor my friend. –And then there’s highest scorer on the Math Team.-
Another thumbs down for TJ is that the facility is kind of gross right now, no other way to put it. They’re going through construction to remodel the school (yay), but until it’s done (2017 baby), there will plenty of tractors, and debris, and makeshift trailer classrooms all around your beautiful school. (Note: TJ is plenty old. My base school is so much newer in comparison – there aren’t cracks in the floor, dusty dark lighting, or gross hold-the-knob-down-while-you-wash-your-hands bathroom faucets there. Yet somehow, I chose TJ instead?)
This is probably the first thing you should know when you start thinking about applying to this school. The whole admissions process, believe me, gets really crazy – and you want to be at least a good 75% sure you’d like to go before you enter your name and click start. I for one, was not one of those people. In fact, for most of my middle school days, up until maybe the last two-ish months of eighth grade, hated even the thought of TJ. I disliked the idea of having to take a test to go, being separated from your friends, focusing on the SCIENCES (yay art people), and (worst of all) all the work that TJ ensued.
My idea of TJ was a bunch of lifeless nerds sitting in a classroom, unable to interact with each other, and whom didn’t know the first thing about music or painting or literature. I believed the teachers to all be about as qualified as baby-sitters, knowing only how to handle children, but nothing of the subject they were hired to teach. I thought the classes to be all revolving around math and science and technology (urban legend: the bathroom graffiti at TJ was math problems) (another urban legend: the quote unquote “art classes” would teach you all about mathematical proportions and angles in drawing). I also thought (heh, this is where it gets awkward guys) that there wouldn’t be any good looking people (we’re talking BOTH genders here), because in my mind knowing a lot of science-y things meant you didn’t know anything about fashion…or grooming…or hygiene?
REALITY CHECK!! I cannot describe the people at TJ being anything but really (surprisingly) COOL people that also happen to be smart. We’ve got the art geeks who know how to program, the book nerds who know all about derivatives, the music freaks with that uncanny ability to fix your computer, and the class clown science noobs (and all the mixes in between). We’ve got really smart people, we’ve got really dumb people – talented, funny, ugly, beautiful, crazy, sane (no not really), tall, short, athletic, strange, etc. etc. etc. It’s your average high school with a slightly higher average GPA.
The teachers – well from what I hear, they are quite good, actually, or at least some of them are. Some are everything I’d thought they be, but some couldn’t be more different. You have the teachers everybody kind of hates, and the ones you wish you had for every class. It’s a good mix.
TJ’s arts program is quite awesome. Their music is three thumbs up, their drama program is award-winning. Their art classes…I have yet to find out, but I’m sure it’s great as well. As for you writing geeks, do not even think twice about it. Part of being a smarticle particle is being okay-insanely good at grammar and plot and blah blah blah. And I’d say TJ’s creativity is unlike any other.
Even the workload is exaggerated (by how much, that’s a different story). Freshmen year, most people can get a good 8 hours of sleep in, if (AND THIS IS IMPORTANT) you can manage your time. But of course, you have to factor in things like sports, clubs, and extra curriculars to the mix as well. High school is just a busy time. One thing I didn’t understand, but I think I should’ve, is that TJ isn’t the only one like this. If you choose to go to your base high school instead, life won’t be that much easier or different. High school is a big step up from middle school, and only a small step from college – the workload is definitely heavier, the commitment is definitely there. Regardless of where you go, you will feel the pressure.
LET IT BE KNOWN, THOUGH, that there are PUH-LENTY of downfalls to going to TJ. Because it is one of the only non-region-based high schools, you’ll meet people from all over. Not only might it take really long to get there, but it will also be quite difficult to find people that live near you to carpool with (especially for things like specific sports and clubs). (“Hey dad, can you leave work early every Monday through Thursday for the next four weeks to send me to cheer practice 45 minutes away? K Thanks bye!”)
Another thing is that people are a lot smarter at TJ. The competition is fierce – no matter what subject you are good at. Want to be debate captain? Good luck. Class president? Wish you the best! Valedictorian? LOL>may the odds be ever in your favor my friend. –And then there’s highest scorer on the Math Team.-
Another thumbs down for TJ is that the facility is kind of gross right now, no other way to put it. They’re going through construction to remodel the school (yay), but until it’s done (2017 baby), there will plenty of tractors, and debris, and makeshift trailer classrooms all around your beautiful school. (Note: TJ is plenty old. My base school is so much newer in comparison – there aren’t cracks in the floor, dusty dark lighting, or gross hold-the-knob-down-while-you-wash-your-hands bathroom faucets there. Yet somehow, I chose TJ instead?)