Throughout freshman year, we learned a lot about ourselves and our classmates. However, there are quite a few things that we learned we had to watch out for as well such as, “We are NOT as old as we think we are.” We came from the top of the middle school and we moved to the bottom of the high school. Our 8th grade arrogance that we still have gets us in trouble sometimes, especially seeing as we are found to be rather annoying by the upperclassmen; another learning experience of the year.
As 8th graders the year before this we thought we were big stuff and all that. As freshmen we learned that we were most definitely considered annoying. Not that it was all our fault, it’s just the natural persona of middle schoolers. We will never know how annoying we are, even as we look back, it doesn’t make sense to us. Going along with the idea of middle school, we were never allowed to chew gum. As freshmen we learn the true deliciousness of the taste of gum. Now some of us did know that before, but that savory taste we never fully experienced as we are always watching our backs for teachers.
Our classes proceed as normal throughout the year and as the year goes on we tend to tire more and more. This proves to be a problem when it comes to our math class. Math class is the period that tiredness tends to strike its hardest. Through the duration of the year we learn clearly that we are not to fall asleep in this class. Math teachers love to prey on those who drowse off, they catch and call on you, causing you to snap to attention and nearly give you a heart attack. I personally think they do this for enjoyment.
Don’t come to chapel late. Do not ever come to chapel late. Everyone stares at you. You are the spotlight of the chapel. If you do come to chapel late make sure that you always sit in the front. Do not go to your seat. If you do go to your seat you get evil glares from all the teachers. This makes everything that much more uncomfortable.
The earlier you figure out that procrastination hurts, the better you will do throughout the year. High school and middle school are two totally different areas when it comes to how much work you have to put into your work. In middle school you could usually get away with finishing a project or paper up the night before it was due. High school however, you must start when you get the assignment, as the teachers have this skill that tell them when you started the assignment. This skill is not very nice when it comes to getting grades. Study halls are given to you for a reason and you must learn to use them wisely!
While we learn a lot as freshmen we also have a couple things we will definitely not miss about our first year as high schooler.
No one likes being put at the bottom of the food chain again. This also comes with the connotation of, “Oh they’re a freshman,” from the classes above us. Which is not always fun when it comes to wanting to insert your opinion or doing what you want. Even in classes that were mixed grades,we are downgraded because the older students were never really sure whether you would be able to complete the assignment/project or not.
The other thing I will not miss is having last pick of everything. Last pick of classes, last pick of J-Term, and sometimes last pick at sports as we are freshmen just coming into high school sports. Just overall being last.
I learned a lot as a freshman. Many of these were trivial and small annoying things that will improve with time. However, I suppose the most trivial, but biggest learning experience throughout the whole year would be learning just how much the Frosh are “Hall Hoggers.” People would continuously try to get around us and we would not making it easy for them. We always stand around in groups and move in packs.
While we freshmen can be very annoying we also learn a lot throughout the year. Hopefully these learning experiences will be shown next year as we also learn even more. If not however, all I can say is, “Yup that’s us Freshmen.”
~Carissa Woolace