Looking back on Freshman year, it was way more than just learning argumentative essays and memorizing the Quadratic Equation. It was about learning how to navigate a world that just got ten times bigger. Somewhere between trying to remember all your new teachers’ names and finding the fastest route to your next class, a learning experience unfolded—one that went beyond the lessons taught in the classroom.
When first starting the transition from middle school to high school, one thing looms large: first impressions. For most freshmen, those first few days are a mix of nerves, new faces, and hallway confusion.
“First entering high school felt overwhelming; everything was bigger and more independent than in middle school. It was a bit scary, but it also felt like a fresh start with lots of new friends and opportunities,” Freshman Katelyn Compton said.
The workload in high school can be quite different than how you were expected in middle school. It is much more strict and will hold you more accountable for meeting deadlines, as you are expected to perform more maturely.
Freshman year is arguably one of the most pivotal times in your life, considering it is the transition from your pre-teen years to the beginning of teenhood. During this time, you learn how to be more responsible and explore new parts of yourself that you did not get the chance to in middle school. All the different opportunities and different paths high school offers can be a little daunting, but it can also be just as freeing once you dive more into yourself.
“I mainly missed the whole wonder of a new school, new opportunities, and clubs. I got involved with the ASL club in my freshman year, and now I am 3 years deep into ASL, and loving it. I’d absolutely do it again…,” Junior Nathan Compton said.
It’s easy to get caught up in the stress of high school and forget to enjoy the moment. Even if the beginning feels uncertain, there’s beauty in the unknown. Freshman year offers countless chances to explore, connect, and rediscover who you’re becoming.
