Football, FAST, and first day fidgeting! These are just some of the words that come to mind when the school year starts back up.

This past week there have been some new additions on campus. Class of 2029 just joined the chat. Advancing to the next grade is not easy, let alone an entire new school, but they can power through it. Some freshmen have siblings who have done it before so they know what high school is all about, but others are in a whole new world and have a lot to figure out. 

The first week can definitely bring a lot of different feelings forward. It can be overwhelming, exciting, and even nerve wracking. Two new IB freshmen, Kashvi Nagpal and Navya Gandhodi had some differing feelings on the change. Kashvi felt high school was unlike middle school, but also at the same time enjoyable saying that “It’s chaotic and a big change, but it’s also fun”. Navya had something a little bit different to say with her feelings veering more towards overwhelming, saying that “It’s not stressful, but it’s a lot”.

Here at Seminole, the ninth graders have their own separate campus.  Most if not every class they need is offered there. Some students may feel like being on the ninth grade campus, (NGC), is similar to being in middle school, but on the other hand there are also many people who feel as if coming to the NGC is an adjustment. Stress and nerves can be felt throughout the air. There are a multitude of new classes that bring on greater difficulty levels as well as new people to meet and work with. Being placed into a new environment with different individuals is not always easy and can take sometime to acclimate to.

A new school also brings on a new schedule. Classes start at 7:10 A.M. and end at 2:10 P.M. Compared to middle school, this is a pretty big jump back, where the school day typically starts at 9:30 A.M. and ends at 4:00 P.M. Waking up early is already tough—but waking up early for school is even tougher. Altering your daily schedule by an hour or two takes some adaptation. Some get used to it, while others do not. The way everyone copes and manages with changes like these is different, and it is perfectly understandable to not be okay with these modifications. “Usually I would sleep at 11 o’clock but now I have to sleep at 9:30 just to get 7 hours of sleep,” says IB freshman Srishti Sharma. This is a great example of having to make changes that may not seem favorable or fun.

So, for all of the freshmen out there trying to navigate the ins and outs of high school, here are some more tips and tricks from those who have done this before. One of the biggest things to remember, make sure you manage your time wisely, and it may seem like a very generic suggestion, but it does make a difference. Making sure you know what is due and when, and then spreading it throughout the week based on the due date can really make a difference. Another important thing to remember is to ask for help when you need it. It may feel weird or embarrassing to ask a question, but you would rather ask for help when you first feel confused rather than wait till the test and be lost when you try to study. One last thing to do is get involved in extracurriculars. Clubs and sports can give you a little fun amongst all of your academics.

To the class of 2029, we hope the next four years are rewarding and make sure you live up your high school years to the fullest! Before you know it you will be walking across that stage!