People are always interested in the upperclassmen this time of year. They always want to know what colleges they got accepted to, whether senioritis is setting in, if they’re gonna visit colleges soon, and so on. But what about the freshmen? It’s about time we shine the spotlight on the freshman class and see how their big first year of high school has been so far.
The transition from middle school to high school can be a trying time. We all remember those first few weeks, or at least the emotions associated with getting acquainted with this giant building that we then call home for four eventful years. It can certainly be a little intimidating. “It’s a new building and a new way that things are running, a new feel to it,” said freshman McKenzie Clark.
Coming from the straightforward roundabout layout of Einstein Middle School, Shorewood’s three layers of E-shaped branches can sometimes feel like a bunch of identical dead ends. But once you figure out the pattern of classroom numbers, it’s a lot easier to figure out where you’re going. “At first, I was really nervous for [the transition] but it got easier over time,” freshman Amelia Hodge said. “Being able to take good notes and study has also been really helpful for a lot of my classes,” she said.
For some, the new classes and block schedule can be a big change. “I think [high school classes] are definitely harder, but they’re more interesting. And they definitely have more homework,” said freshman Brendan Lee.
For another freshman, Aria Nair, the transition went better than she thought. “It was definitely different but not as different as expected. We still have our classes and same kind of structure, it’s just more freedom,” Nair said.
One freshman, Shawn Park, had a unique introduction to Shorewood. “[The transition] was interesting, I guess, because I transferred to Shorewood during the second semester.” A participant in chamber orchestra, Park says that one of the most useful things for him during his first semester here is that “teachers are helpful and nice about letting me know about things.”
Freshman year is also the perfect time to get involved in the many communities within Shorewood. This year’s freshmen have been joining sports, clubs, theater, music, and many other groups. “I really enjoy Crafting Smiles, it’s a crocheting club,” said Hodge. Clark said, “I was in soccer and I’m doing track. And I’m in Interact and Lifesavers.”
Aria Nair joined the Technology Student Association (TSA) this year, and went to State with them. Leading into her freshman year, Nair said, “A lot of people would tell me about the different clubs like DECA, TSA, and what classes to prepare for…So now I do JV soccer and I’m also part of TSA.”
A few freshmen are even making moves to create clubs themselves. Maddie Lambert, who found herself in orchestra and theater this year, says she aspires to start a group of her own. “I’m trying to make a club, and hopefully it works- it would be a multiracial acceptance club, for students who are biracial or multiracial,” Lambert said. Lambert also notes that one of the best parts of her year was “being able to do the musical because this is my first time I’ve ever gotten to do a big production… and it was very exciting, cause a lot of people in drama are super duper nice.”
So now that they’ve reached the end of the year, what are these rising sophomores looking forward to for the rest of their high school experience? Turns out, most of them just look forward to getting more class choices. “I’m looking forward to joining more clubs and doing more electives, I wanna take digital photography,” said Hodge.
Freshman Carlos Reina Echezuria wants to take automotive tech next year. “I also want to go into the soccer team,” Echezuria said. “[And] I want to learn more English”.
The lessons that they’ve learned this year have also been important. For incoming freshmen, Park says, “You don’t always have to be perfect- you’ll be fine if you just do your best.” Hodge points out that you should “practice not procrastinating work cause it’s more important to get it turned in now.” Nair’s advice is to take it easy. “Don’t stress about it too much. You’ll find a good group of friends and it’ll be pretty fun. Just try to enjoy it more than stress out,” she said.
SAMMY SAYS: What is your freshman year highlight?
Callie Shyn: “Learning about all these high school traditions, like walking into our first pep assembly for homecoming, that was really fun.”
Aaliyah Glover: “Meeting and connecting with people…I also like some of the assemblies, they’re cool”
Baylor Alger-Norris: “I think it would be being a part of the community and being able to meet and connect with so many people of all ages”
Tristan Satenay: “Freshman year football was really fun, and it was really enjoyable to be a part of a community like that”
