What is one challenge adolescents might face during school transitions?

During school transitions, such as moving from middle school to high school, adolescents often encounter significant changes in their social environment, which can lead to the loss of established friendships. This situation is compounded by the fact that students may find themselves in larger and more diverse settings where their previous peer groups are not present. As adolescents seek to navigate new social dynamics, the challenge of building new friendships while coping with the emotional impact of losing familiar relationships can be particularly daunting.

In contrast, improved time management, greater engagement in school activities, and enhanced academic performance are typically seen as developmental outcomes or advantages that can arise from positive school transitions rather than challenges. While some adolescents might successfully develop better time management skills or engage more in school during transitions, these are not pervasive challenges that all students face during such changes.