Coming into high school from Elementary and Middle school is a big change, and for some it can be nerve-racking for those incoming freshmen because of the uncertainty of “new” expectations.
As the school years go on, and people get a better understanding of their new environment, there’s a likelihood that people wish they would’ve done things differently because of the lack of information during their time as freshmen and sophomores.
The Clarion has worked to find out through a variety of different seniors, and get different advice and tips from those that wished they would’ve done or changed what they did when they a freshman.
A senior, Lionel de Leon, advises freshmen to “find something you love doing and have a desire for… this is going to help with stress management as High School can be overwhelming sometimes. This will be a good way to relax”. He also added that he had wished to have stayed involved with school and extracurriculars. “I think it’s good to just do it for the memories. Even though you might not be good or you find them boring, I think it’s good.”
Linda Her, a senior, encourages freshmen to have fun, keep their grades up, and make friends– a lot of them. When asked what freshmen should know, she replied, “They should know how to do their work, pay attention, be respectful and kind.” Linda says that a couple of things that freshmen can look forward to by the time they’re seniors is being able to work, have more fun, college opportunities, and most importantly; graduate.
It is very common for the Seniors to encourage freshmen to have the most fun possible, while also finding a middle ground between holding together their work and other activities.
Elijah Yang, a senior, exclaimed he was regretful for allowing himself to get so burned out by the end of his freshman year, a common occurrence throughout any grade level. He encouraged those who may feel the way he may have felt back then, to continue pushing until the very end.
Aside from academics, Elijah Yang also said, “I heavily advise them (freshmen) to like not let their friend group to get too big. Like honestly, keeping your circle small is like a really good thing to learn.” While keeping your circle to a minimal size, he does still encourage having and making many friends
Another senior, Ashton Heng, encourages freshmen to surround themselves with positive energy and as many positive figures as they can. Ashton explains that the things you do during your high school years will most likely affect you down the road, so he advises freshmen to not waste any time; do as much as you can while you still can. He says that by the time freshmen are seniors, they’ll be able to start their futures, since right now, they’re just starting out. He has one important message for freshmen: Don’t fall in love. “Junior year’s not all that” He adds.
For our final senior, mostly given from Andrew Alfaro, “Don’t mess around in your classes… It ruins your experience a little bit. You miss hanging out with your friends because you have to go to like let’s say detention because you’re messing around in class.” Andrew proceeded to mention, “Take it from someone who did not like to pay attention because they’re going to regret it.”
It is highly encouraged to really try things out rather than regretting not doing things when the opportunity was open for the taking. High school is the perfect place to really try new things or find groups of people that you can relate with and build new bonds.
It is important to remember some things don’t last forever and you shouldn’t spend all your time lingering on the past when the future holds so much more, and while you’re still young exploring new possibilities, something that you may have tried out for fun could be the best decision you’ve ever made.
One last message for all freshmen: prioritize your mental health.
