The transition from middle school to high school can be jarring. It’s a good chunk into the second trimester and it’s important to see how some freshmen are doing.
“First trimester, I was worried about how I would do. Grades, making friends and the usual things people worry about. I really thought, ‘Could I do this?’ After the first week I started to get more confident and comfortable,” freshman Jacob Hatsitski said about his experience. He is enjoying all of his classes with Ceramics and Journalism One being his favorites so far. “Journalism is a good way to express yourself and your interests through writing.” Jacob enjoys how diverse and welcoming the culture of CHS is. Now that he’s in the second trimester, he thinks he’s doing decently, “I’m shy and reserved but around my friends I come alive.” Jacob is looking forward to what the rest of the year has in store for him.
Some people have a different perspective however, “[High school] feels like middle school but harder.” In fact, freshman Saw Htoo feels the change is a good one. “It’s good, more of my friends are here [Compared to middle school]. I’m seeing some friends I haven’t seen since elementary school.” He feels he is adapting well. “I think I’m doing good. Centennial is diverse, so it’s easy to find a place to fit in.” In trimester one, he didn’t really have any fun classes, trimester two is different however. He started taking P.E. and finds himself really enjoying it.
For some freshmen, their high school experience hasn’t been the same as their expectations. “It feels kind of weird. In middle school I thought high school would be tough and strict but it isn’t.” Nina Siani feels like she’s fitting well at Centennial, like many freshmen. She likes the school culture here and she’s even participating in dance. She hasn’t really found a favorite class or subject but she is currently taking Journalism and really enjoying it.
It’s important to remember that not every freshman is having the best time adjusting, trying to empathize and use one’s own experience can be very helpful in understanding what they’re going through. “Freshman year was depressing, it was some rough stuff, man. Even the physical layout of the school was overwhelming. It was really big and confusing at first.” Lakotah Aamold is currently a junior. His freshman year was 2020-2021, the first full year back at school after Covid. As Lakotah can attest, it was a very rough time at school, especially for freshmen straight out of a final middle school year spent in quarantine. “Oh I was doing terrible, I failed a lot of classes. I think it was three.” It’s not all doom and gloom for Lakotah though, he met most of the people he’s still friends with in freshman year. He has also found the classes he likes, “One is Journalism and the other one is Aquatics. I like hanging out in the water and Journalism is relaxing until it isn’t.” He’s not doing any sports but he is very active in the clubs. “Dungeon and Dragons club is a very welcoming community and a relaxing place. It’s a very fun game to play with classmates. Video Game Club is less relaxing and it gets pretty heated, but if you can take the heat and high energy it’s very fun.”
The experiences of freshmen can vary wildly, with some having an easy time with the transition and some having a rougher one. The feeling of being an unwelcome outsider and not feeling like they belong is very common and it’s important to remind freshmen and new students that’s not the case.