CHS through the eyes of a military student (Editorial)
As a military child, it’s easy to feel isolated and alone.
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Did you know that there are over 90 new military students attending CHS this year? That’s right, 90. I am one of those students, and this is my experience at CHS so far. I have enrolled in more than seven schools, Carlisle included. Every school is different, but what makes Carlisle High School special?
This school has a surprisingly uncomplicated enrollment process. Because there are many options to choose from, picking a class of interest is easy. CHS offers about 200 classes, which is a lot more than many other schools I’ve been to. In addition to the numerous amounts of classes, this school is surprisingly well-kept. Typically someone would think that with a school the size of CHS, it would be harder to maintain nice facilities. However, I have yet to see a scuff mark on the gym floors or stained cafeteria floors and tables.
However, CHS isn’t all great for military students. I understand that every school has its own set of rules, but there’s something about this school that makes the rules confusing. This school is trying to stop students from texting at lunch, which is, in my opinion, a minor issue. In fact, texting isn’t even an issue at all. Some things that are restricted are unnecessary.
In addition, CHS is huge. At times it is hard to navigate where you are. I bet I haven’t even been to all parts of the school. I’m used to a small, family-like school. This is one major thing I am having to adapt to.
Lastly, making friends here is a serious challenge. I understand that everyone already has their own groups, and that becoming friends with someone just to watch them leave ten months later is hard, but this is the first time I’ve had difficulty meeting people. Being in the military typically means that you have to just get up and go whenever they tell you to. It’s not any easier to leave your best friends behind than to watch your best friends leave. In my opinion, it’s harder to leave than to be the one staying. I hope that Carlisle will be more open to new students earlier, because believe it or not, it’s hard for us too.
Yet once a friend or two is made from Carlisle, everything’s fine. My new friends have shown me an enormous amount of hospitality. In addition, the sports teams here are great. CHS has so many options to chose from, so it’s easier to find one to be interested in. Also, the teams seem better than other schools.
Lastly, and most importantly, CHS has a lot of pride. I will see students wear Carlisle shirts or sweatshirts just about every week. To a new student, when others take pride in their school, it’s a good thing. Also, I’ve heard people talking about how great Homecoming Spirit Week is here. I can’t wait to see how everything works out.
CHS, like many other schools, takes a while for new students to get adjusted. However, once we adapt, it’s smooth sailing.
Disclaimer: Articles designated as “Editorial” represent the views and opinions of the author, not the 2014-2015 Periscope staff, CHS Administration or the CHS student body.
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Megan Woodward • Oct 31, 2014 at 11:05 am
I agree. As a military student myself, it has been hard for me and some of my other military friends to meet people. Everyone that lives here have known there friends since kindergarten and its hard to meet new people when they are so used to being in their cliques.
Mike Wolfert • Oct 30, 2014 at 8:53 pm
This article is good for giving people a different perspective on life. A lot of people don’t realize that I am a military child. I lived in several different states and one foreign country, but even though I’ve experienced moving year to year I do get to see a different perspective of the military student. I feel that non-military students in Carlisle only see the perspective of the Army War College families, but there are a lot of different experiences to be had. The War College students impress me though. Most of them are extremely kind and sociable because they have had to make new friends every one to three years. They have developed social skills that not all people are gifted with, and I thank them for giving military families a good name.
Claire Hillison • Oct 29, 2014 at 8:50 am
This is an AWESOME article. As a military kid whose been in Carlisle for many years, I have gotten to see both sides of this issue. I think that for people who have lived in Carlisle their whole lives it is hard to know what its like to be a new kid. Love the article!
Kenleigh Peet • Oct 27, 2014 at 9:40 am
This is a very interesting article! I find that it is very beneficial to be able to understand other people and their experiences. As for the description of Carlisle High School, I totally agree. I’ve never had trouble finding a course to take, but deciding which one to choose and which to leave out has been the challenging part for me!
Abigail Payne • Oct 24, 2014 at 1:43 pm
As a new military student myself, I’d have to agree with a lot of your observations. It’s all an adventure, that’s for sure!
Julia Pantleo • Oct 24, 2014 at 1:31 pm
What you said about finding friends is really true, it is so much harder to find friends here as a military kid because everyone has their own “cliques,” for lack of a better word; it is really hard to hop into a group of friends who have known each other since kindergarten.
Michaela McQuaig • Oct 24, 2014 at 11:25 am
Very interesting article. I have always thought and heard different about the people of CHS though. From the military students I have befriended and something that I have thought about Carlisle is that we are one of the best places to make friends and accept military students. I have heard from my military friends that they were surprised that Carlisle was so welcoming and making friends was easy. I think many people feel this way because we are used to this turnover and many families understand it because they have retired here (like my family). However, the point of it being lonely is interesting and I had not thought that before
Sarah French • Oct 24, 2014 at 8:28 am
I am a military student and have been attending CHS since sophomore year now. I love CHS and everything about it! CHS is the first school I have come to with this many opportunities. Like Lauren said, “CHS offers more than 200 classes.” Since I have been here for 3 years now I have found a great place with friends, faculty, and just being comfortable in general. I can’t wait to graduate with my senior class and the many military kids in it.
Parker Kendall • Oct 23, 2014 at 9:41 am
I come from a military background, but since my father is retired, I haven’t moved around. I love hearing the experiences of different people who are new to this school, and the experiences of moving to different schools.
Hannah Hixson • Oct 23, 2014 at 9:38 am
I just moved here as well. Even though I am not a military student, I am a ballet student. Dancing at CPYB and taking on the role of CHS is really tough. This school has been a fantastic transition though. Everyone is really nice, and they are so welcoming. At first I thought that I would have no friends, but just a couple of days in you have so many! So far I love it here!
Madi Clepper • Oct 23, 2014 at 9:34 am
It seems really hard to be a military kid, and its hard to imagine how complicated it is for military kids to move from one place to another every so often. Making friends for a whole school year and then having to leave them to go to another place seems pretty difficult. I wouldn’t like being a new kid every couple years or year. However CHS is pretty good at welcoming new students and military kids so they feel comfortable and there is a lot of new students every year, so it might be easier to some people to think they aren’t the only one that its hard for.
Nathanial Yount • Oct 23, 2014 at 9:26 am
I have always wondered how it felt to be a moving military kid. my dad is in the National Guard, and is currently deploying to Romania. we haven’t really been moving around, and now I know how it feels to be moving constantly.
Connor Hamilton • Oct 23, 2014 at 8:37 am
As a military student who has lived in Carlisle for 3 years I think that this article expresses the thoughts of just about every new military student to CHS very well. People were very friendly my first year here and I have seen that continue for new students each year. It also helps to have other military students who have lived in Carlisle for a couple of years as friends when you first move.
Anna Hetherington • Oct 10, 2014 at 8:37 am
Being (active duty) military is a lot harder than people think; I speak from experience. Not only do I really like this topic, I also really like how you approached it and it ultimately is a great piece. Great job!
Rachel Day • Oct 8, 2014 at 7:56 am
As someone who has lived in Carlisle my entire life, this is an interesting article because this is something I have never experienced. I have been around military kids all throughout school, but it was never something I experienced first-hand, so this is an interesting perspective.
Nikki Marshall • Oct 7, 2014 at 2:06 pm
I just moved here. Being a military student it is hard to move and you don’t want to have to worry about classes and everything. If they have a variety of choices, it’s a good thing. I got some nursing classes and they were what I was really looking for!
Kayla Hallman • Oct 6, 2014 at 12:54 pm
This was an interesting topic and a very well written article! Great idea to write about this and I think it will really open the eyes to people, like me, who have been here most of our lives and how we can be helpful to people who have just moved to Carlisle.