Freshmen Take First Steps Into High School

Dashing through the crowded and cramped halls that all look the same, searching for the right class before the resounding chimes of the late bell ring.

This is how freshmen feel when taking their first steps into high school. Yet many found it is not as bad as the rumors.

“It’s really overwhelming, and there’s a lot of pressure. But otherwise I think it’s a lot less intimidating than I thought it would be,” said Hannah Pairmore, a Class of 2019 freshman.

This is most likely due to the help and support provided by the Freshman House.

“They have a house here, and they have a group that they can always connect to. They can always visit with their teachers to see where they’re at you know and and to see if they need anything. [I watch] they’re grades, I look at their attendance to see, to follow them. We try to help them as much as we can,” Imtiaz Azzam, the Freshman Principal, said.

With the extra help, most freshmen found school quite entertaining.

“High school is pretty fun. I thought it was going to be a lot scarier,” said Freshman Abigail Dodd.

The transition can be difficult, but they have become accustomed to the rigor and challenge of high school.

“It’s fun. It’s generally enjoyable. Lots of homework. That’s hard to get used to,” said Andrew Walch, also a freshman.

Even the hoax that upperclassmen should be feared and are mean monsters has been found to be untrue.

“It’s more blended [than middle school] because I have classes with some upperclassmen so I don’t feel like I have the freshman label put on me at all,” Dodd said.

Friendships even tend to develop between the classes.

“I think that like everybody kinda just has like an interfriendship kinda thing,” said Freshman Max Addington.

But there are some disadvantages to “being at the bottom of the food chain,” as Dodd said.

Walch mentioned that, “Freshmen have no authority.”

Especially in sports, freshmen feel the age gap.

“Well for sports I feel like freshmen get put on all the work like for swimming for an example, they have to change the pool and put away all the equipment and stuff, “ Addington said.

Pairmore said that “being new and being with older kids it’s definitely more complicated, and you feel smaller.”

Once these freshmen got over the initial shock of the transition from middle school to high school, they found themselves excited about what is to come.

“I’m looking forward to all the different kinds of classes and like especially AP classes. I’m excited for those, and assemblies and spirit days. I love spirit days,” Pairmore said.

They are pumped and eager for the upcoming sports and activities.

“I think a lot of the spirit days are really fun, so I’m like really excited for all the spirit days. I was really excited for volleyball. It’s been super fun going to other schools. It’s really exciting having tournaments. I’m excited to do other sports like track in the summertime,” Dodd said.

Walch said he was excited about “what he gets to learn and hanging out with friends.”

He also mentioned his excitement for swimming and basketball.

Addington is also excited about his sports.

“I swim and I plan on trying out for track.”

Becoming a freshman can be difficult, balancing academics, activities and social aspects of life, but most seem to master the art of high school and enjoy their overall experience.