As we move into a new school year, it is important to remind everyone that a whole new group of students is entering the building. Freshmen.
Since September 3rd, us freshmen have been scrambling to learn the norms of Harriton and figure out our place within the school. The transition from middle school to high school is huge. There are almost twice as many students, an entirely new schedule to learn, and infinitely harder classes. It is definitely a big step in life, which is why I think we should take some time to recognize everything the new freshmen have been going through so far.
From my personal experience as a member of the class of 2028, this year has been off to a great start. I love having a whole hour of freedom during lunch as well as the absence of “teams” so familiar in middle school. I get to meet new people, some of whom are not even in 9th grade! I have made a lot of new friends and I have gotten even closer with old ones.
High school has made me feel more independent than ever. I thought elementary to middle school was a big transition, but this feels much more substantial. I like how clubs can meet during Lunch and Learn instead of just meeting after school. This creates the feeling that the club members care a lot about being present at meetings, taking time out of their lunch to come together and bond over similar interests. Similarly, It has been really nice to see some of the upperclassmen take charge during meetings and also during Advisory, and grow into leadership roles. In middle school, we did not have as many clubs, they all met after school, and they were completely teacher-led.
Lunch and Learn also gives students the opportunity to go to the library. I go with my friends almost every day after we finish eating. It is a great place to study and do homework in the middle of the day to lift some of your nightly workload. Students don’t just have to go to the library, you can quite literally sit anywhere in the entire school. Having the liberty to sit outside of the cafeteria, I feel like I have more freedom. With this possibility, so many options open up for me and my friends. We can sit in a hallway on the third floor and no one will mind. Even more interestingly, if I really wanted to, I could eat with upperclassmen because everyone has the same hour of lunch at the same time every day.
The shift to high school has been pretty smooth for me, but for others I am sure it has been a little stressful. My friend Audrey Sickle noted that the workload has been a big adjustment for her, and that at times, she could use more instruction from teachers. Overall, though, she said, despite these changes, she has been able to successfully keep up with her work, and she is happy to have met a lot of new people in her classes. I can relate to Audrey, because although high school has been a huge change for our class, we have all adjusted accordingly in these past few weeks.
Similar to lunch, I enjoy having more than one grade in some of my classes. In middle school, there were standardized levels for each class, so you were in classes with only your grade or just your team. Having sophomores, juniors, and occasional seniors in my classes has been an interesting shift that I did not really think much of coming into Harriton. It has opened me up to meeting new people, making me feel mature to know that older kids are learning some of the same things I am. It is also crazy to think some of the kids in my class can drive and even vote!
On a less positive note, the workload has been a huge adjustment for me. Although most people would not agree with this, I kind of like having homework. Having two or three things to do per night is a good way to solidify what you’re learning in class. I like the feeling of having additional responsibility and the chance to improve my time management. Even though it can get pretty stressful at times, homework is still important. I have always heard about my older friends having so much homework they were up until 11 or sometimes 12 every night, but for now the workload has not been that bad. (Knock on wood!) Regardless, it would make me feel more like a high schooler if I had so much work to do I had to stay up late to get it all done.
I love leaving school right when the final bell rings. Last year, we had I/E which was pretty much Learn but at the end of the day. After our last class we all went back to our homerooms (or wherever Efficiency assigned us to) and could do homework for about a half hour until the final bell rang, signaling we could leave. Leaving right from a class is preferable because it adds to that feeling of high school independence. We do not have to go back to our homerooms and sit through dismissal announcements. When that bell rings, the day is over.
Although there are many positives to being in high school, it isn’t all great. I had the chance to interview Athena Chinen who, when asked how her freshmen year was going so far, said, “I do cross country and I miss at least three classes every week so I’m always catching up on work. If you do a sport or club you’re getting home at 6:30 every day. I always have a ton of homework and I’m not getting enough sleep.” Athena’s unique perspective shed light on the struggles some freshman may be experiencing. She did not just say “it’s been good,” she spoke about some of the negatives of participating in a school sport. I do not participate in school sports, so I have not had to experience balancing my commitment to athletics along with academics. But, starting high school with a sport is probably really hard, especially for freshmen because it is our first year and there are a lot of things to adapt to in this new school.
All in all, the 2024-2025 school year is starting off strong and I hope it continues that way. It might feel like the year is going by so slowly, but savor it! Soon enough it will be June and we will all be wondering how this year has gone by so fast.