When coming into high school for the first time, many are excited, nervous, and curious about this new chapter in their lives. As freshmen begin their high school journey, they are faced with a whole new world that includes new challenges, new freedom, and many new experiences and memories to come. But what do freshmen really feel when stepping into this new world? What are their questions, fears, and anticipations?
The transition from middle school to high school can be overwhelming. Freshman, Sophia Moran discovered the common fear of social anxiety and academic stress. These fears are not uncommon among freshmen, as Sophia puts it, “I was honestly scared of who I was going to be sitting with at lunch, but I was also scared if my classes were going to be hard.” The uncertainty of social situations and the worrying of academics can often make the transition to high school an intimidating experience for many freshmen. Similarly, freshman Keirah Williams also felt nervous about the transition, particularly, stating, ¨I was scared of all the new people I would be encountering with from all different schools and different grade levels.¨ The anxieties that come with the beginning of a new chapter are not uncommon, and aren’t ever really that scary. When further asked how they view those fears now, Sophia says, “It really wasn’t that bad or scary. I had lots of friends at lunch, and my classes aren’t as bad as I was expecting them to be.” While Keirah says, “I now view my fear as one of the best things, because after actually encountering people, it made me want to get to know people better.” Both fears Sophia and Keirah felt are common things one may feel when stepping into a new environment, but they both realized they felt these fears for really no reason.
Sophia Moran goes into some further details on her current high school experiences, and the new things she’s trying out, stating, “This year I’m trying out tennis because I wanted to try something new, and some friends were doing it. So far, I really enjoy it, and hope to keep playing.” Sophia is doing what any freshman should, trying new things. Her new found interest in playing tennis is something she really enjoys doing, and she hopes to continue.
When entering high school, the seriousness of one’s future is taken up an extra notch. It’s time to set yourself up with a set of personal and academic goals to help build that future. Sophia says goals she hopes to reach by the end of this year include, “I hope to maintain my grades at a good spot, and balance my grades with having my free time.” Her and many other freshmen hope to keep their grades up, but Sophia Moran also says, “I’m planning on going to college, but I don’t know what I’m going to do career wise yet.” And Keirah says, “Right now I’m not sure. I haven’t put much thought into what I want to do after high school.” Both feelings regarding after high school are what most freshmen feel. Some know what they want to do, and know they want to continue their education by going to college. While some haven’t thought or decided what they want to do.
Every freshman at the beginning of high school is often presented with a range of challenges, from navigating a new social environment, and adjusting to the difficulty. Keirah says, “My biggest challenge was and still is getting through everyone in the hallways to get to my classes.” Navigating through the halls and through the early days of high school is difficult for all, but with time, will become a breeze.
Taking a step back to that first day where one is faced with an entire new world, one will experience an initial reaction to the new environment. On the first day of school, Keirah said, “I was just super nervous. I felt lost and didn’t know where to go, but I eventually found my way around.” These nerves are common among everyone stepping into an unfamiliar place, but Keirah says she has adjusted to the school and no longer has the same nerves.
Though the beginning of freshman year is stressful, Sophia still has managed to find things to love about her school. “My favorite thing about this school is that all the teachers are really nice. I especially love my French class because it’s something new and fun to learn. I also really love playing tennis. The coach is really amazing, and the team is so supportive of each other.” Being faced with that initial jump from middle school to high school can seem stressful, but everyone will find what they like to do, and that’s exactly what Sophia did.
Both Sophia and Keirah´s first impressions reflect a mix of excitement and nervousness that comes with starting high school. As they navigate through their freshman year, they will face and overcome those initial fears and challenges. While they are just beginning their high school journey, they will continue to grow and start preparing for their future. Sophia and Keirah will continue to adapt and their initial experiences will shape their future opportunities, setting the foundation for their high school years.
