Outside the Classroom: Kaylee McCarthy
Interview by Stella Bold
The Falconer: Being a freshman must be different from middle school, what is something you like and something you dislike about being in high school?
Kaylee McCarthy: “Well now that I’m in high school I personally feel, it is different.. I don’t know why--Like I can’t describe why or how it is, but it just feels different. And one of the things that I do enjoy is that, even though I still have to go to classes and I still do things, I feel like I have more freedom so to say? It’s hard to describe why [the feeling] is there, but it is definitely there, like I feel like I have more freedom, and although I am tense about my grades and getting a good GPA, I still feel more relaxed. I feel like middle school is like figuring out who you are, and once you get into high school you know who you are, and you can do more things. One thing I don’t like about high school is like, when you’re in middle school--this isn’t really that much of a problem for me, but for some people it is, so I guess I’m speaking for other people--but like teachers won’t chase you down anymore. Like if you lose a project or if you don’t have anything they won’t tell you ‘Hey, you forgot this!’. I’m not saying they don’t care, it’s just that, out of all the students, you’re not their main priority always because there’s like five million other people that they have to follow.
The Falconer: Being a freshman must be different from middle school, what is something you like and something you dislike about being in high school?
Kaylee McCarthy: “Well now that I’m in high school I personally feel, it is different.. I don’t know why--Like I can’t describe why or how it is, but it just feels different. And one of the things that I do enjoy is that, even though I still have to go to classes and I still do things, I feel like I have more freedom so to say? It’s hard to describe why [the feeling] is there, but it is definitely there, like I feel like I have more freedom, and although I am tense about my grades and getting a good GPA, I still feel more relaxed. I feel like middle school is like figuring out who you are, and once you get into high school you know who you are, and you can do more things. One thing I don’t like about high school is like, when you’re in middle school--this isn’t really that much of a problem for me, but for some people it is, so I guess I’m speaking for other people--but like teachers won’t chase you down anymore. Like if you lose a project or if you don’t have anything they won’t tell you ‘Hey, you forgot this!’. I’m not saying they don’t care, it’s just that, out of all the students, you’re not their main priority always because there’s like five million other people that they have to follow.
The Falconer: What is some advice you would give to the younger middle schoolers if you had the chance?
KM: If I had the chance (when I’m talking to younger middle schoolers, I’m mostly referencing myself, like if I could go back in time and tell myself to do something) I would say, well a habit I had was like doing work late because I procrastinate really, really badly, but one of the [tips] I have is: always get into the habit of being able to do your work like right as soon as you get home. It might be painful, and you might say, ‘Ughhh, like, five more minuets..’ like what I used to do, but it’s honestly better to get it done then, rather than never get it done at all. And even if it’s not on time, it’s better to get it in late than to just have a zero. It’s just about grades because middle school is getting in the habit and high school is like where everything is serious, you know, they crack the whip. And you know, like everything gets serious, and everything starts to count more.
The Falconer: What is your favorite class and why?
KM: “Alright well, usually most the time- this is sort of a step up because most of the time [interviewers] are like, ‘What’s your favorite subject?’ I personally like all subjects, but class, it’s all about not just subject, but teacher, and the people that are in it. I would have my favorite is either my Biology Honors class with Mrs. Soares, or my World History II Honors with Mrs. McCauley. I personally like Mrs. Soares. She is very easy going but not to the point where you can push her over. And with Mrs. McCauley, I personally love learning about history and I love learning about the world. Definitely way more than learning about my own country for some reason, I don’t know why. I just find her class very interesting. It’s something I like no matter what mood I’m in, and Mrs. McCauley in general is great! She’s just great, there’s no words to describe, she’s just great.
The Falconer: What is your least favorite class and why?
KM: Ooh, my least favorite class.. I mean, since my name is probably going to be on the website...
The Falconer: Do you have many regrets or do you think you’ve done the best you can in life?
KM: Ugh, I honestly… I- I’m not going to lie, I definitely have many regrets, although they’re very small things, like ‘Hey, you could’ve done better on this,’ or ‘Hey you could’ve done better on that.’ I’m that kind of person that like regrets things even though it was out of my control. Like I regret the fact that I couldn’t see one of my grandmothers more often that died recently, I regret that. And I regret not being able to see my dad more, even though that was out of my control. I was a kid I didn’t really understand what was happening until I got older. And then some smaller things which are kind of dumb, are like, I regret as a kid not doing my work always on time in middle school, because my grades weren’t like, catastrophic like F’s and D’s, but like I’m always that student that prefers an A, and like a B at worst. A C is like, ‘Oh...”
The Falconer: Would you say you’ve kept an overall positive outlook on life or have you just been dealing with it because it’s there?
KM: Despite what people think, I’m not always cheery about my life like, ‘Oh my god, everything is going fine!’ because I know it’s not going fine at times and sometimes it is. As weird as it sounds, I keep like a real outlook on life, like if something happens and it’s perceived as bad, I’m not going to make a bad thing super, super positive, I’m going to be like ‘Oh this happened that’s catastrophic.’ and if something good happens I’ll be like, ‘Wow look! A dog was born! That’s so cool!’ Some people do have positive outlooks on life, some people have negative outlooks on life, but I mean, with all the things that I’ve been through and all the things that I’ve done, I guess it’s an accomplishment on it’s own to say, that I have a normal outlook on life.
The Falconer: Is there anything you’ve been dying to say?”
KM: Well I mean, my life…I guess I can be a sort of icon for some kids in the school who have similar situations to me that, although your life isn’t perfect, not everything is going well, because I certainly know that, just know that some things are out of your control, like there’s nothing you can do about them. I’m not going to say, ‘Keep a positive outlook on life.’ because I know it’s hard. I’m going to say like, ‘Hey, as long as you’re doing the best that you can, then you should still be proud of yourself, and that nothing is hard if you at least try.” As cheesy and corny as that sounds, it definitely plays off, because I know somethings won’t come to you easy. Like you’re not going to win a million dollars by writing a two page essay, but one day you could make a lot of money by writing a book. So it’s like steps, and you just have to try, because if you don’t try, then it’s like… what’re you doing?