Now that the school year has started, freshmen are adjusting to new routines, new teachers, and a brand new campus. Some describe the experience as new and exciting while others say it can be overwhelming. So, the real question is how do the freshmen really feel so far?
To get a better picture, we spoke to students about their experiences so far at MCHS. Some shared the challenges of navigating a larger campus, dealing with heavier workloads, and meeting new people. Others highlighted the thrill of new opportunities, such as joining clubs, participating in sports, or having more independence.
Freshman Hailey Alfonzo shares her perspective on the first few weeks of high school.
“I would describe it as nerve-racking because it was my first week at a new school. I was most nervous about the block schedule, and it turned out to be fine and was easy to get used to. I feel more confident now compared to the first day,” Alfonzo said.
Alfonzo’s experience highlights how students often adapt quickly to new environments. For other students, however, the transition to a new school can feel more overwhelming.
Adjusting to a new school often comes with its own set of challenges. For some students, adapting to different schedules and workloads can be particularly difficult. Coming from middle school to high school, the workload can be extremely different.
“A hard adjustment for me was mostly a block schedule because I never knew how it worked. This school is different in some ways because it’s more work and assignments while middle school was easier,” Alfonzo said.
While Alfonzo found the block schedule and increased workload challenging at first, after a few weeks she figured out how to manage it.
Despite the initial challenges of adjusting to a new school, many students are eager to know more about the events being held, like dances, assemblies, and spirit week.
“I’m looking forward to the events that are going to be held,” Alfonzo said.
These events, from the school dances to sports games we have, often play a big role in helping students feel more connected to their school community. Students have something to look forward to besides schoolwork.
Freshmen adjusting to high school can feel distress, but some students like Alfonzo, believe it’s all about finding the right balance.
“If I would give advice to next year’s freshmen, I would say don’t worry too much; you’ll get used to it, it’s just about having a balance with school and outside,” Alfonzo said.
Finding balance is a common theme among students as they find a way to balance out their schoolwork and their outside life.
Starting high school can be an emotional train wreck for students, especially when coming from a smaller middle school environment. Freshman Angel De Leon describes the emotions that come with starting fresh.
“I would describe my first week as a rollercoaster. It’s been such a big jump from middle school to high school and at the start I had no friends, but now I have, like, over 10. I was most nervous about not knowing anyone coming into the year because my middle school was small and I knew everybody so to know nobody was scary, but I managed, and I got friends now,” De Leon said.
Like De Leon, many freshmen share similar feelings at first, especially with meeting new people. But they often find ways to adjust to their new surroundings.
High school often introduces students to new classes, activities, and traditions that they may not have experienced before.
“The class activity that stood out to me the most was the TRF in AVID because I didn’t even know what AVID was before this school year, so it’s definitely taking some adjusting. What I am looking forward to most is definitely the school events, like the Lip Sync Battle and the dances because my middle school never did anything like that,” De Leon said.
This sense of excitement and curiosity about new opportunities is something many students share as they settle into their Middle College High school journey.
Many freshmen enter high school with personal goals for self-improvement. They aim to overcome challenges that they may have faced in middle school.
“I hope to change or grow by the end of freshman year by stop procrastinating my work and do it as soon as possible because then it piles up,” De Leon said.
Procrastination is a common struggle that students face, but De Leon is determined to change that.
In addition to academics and activities, freshmen often find new things to love, and one of them has been the Johnson center.
“I would like to add that Celsius is definitely worth your money at the Johnson Center,” De Leon said.
For De Leon, discovering a new favorite drink at the Johnson center has been fun to add to the high school experience.
Overall, the start of a new journey in high school can be a bumpy road but you can adjust, and it gets better! Just make sure to make the most of it because these years will go in a blink of an eye.
