Freshmen discuss transitioning to high school

By Chase Stone

News Reporter

For freshmen Nicholas Golden and Nadia Johnson Esco, the first few weeks of high school have been a spectacular, confusing, and awesome adjustment.

They are navigating a larger campus, new schedules, and making new friends while adapting to stricter rules. For these newcomers, the changes mean moving outside their comfort zones, facing new expectations, and discovering new opportunities.

"The overall experience has been weird, interesting, and not what I expected," said Johnson Esco, reflecting on the transition.

The new environment pushes them outside their comfort zones, but they are finding growth opportunities. Nicholas Golden, an athlete in football and wrestling, enjoys algebra because he gets to sit with friends. His athletic dreams and the camaraderie at his new school motivate him. Johnson Esco prefers social studies, especially her sixth-and seventh-period classes, finding the subject "interesting and...fun." Both students have also had to quickly adapt to the school's new disciplinary rules, especially the Loss of Privilege (LOP) policy, which emphasizes punctuality and quiet hallways.

"I've had to stop talking to my friends in the hallway and get to class on time because LOP is a big issue," Golden said.

Despite the stricter rules, both students have found many aspects of high school to enjoy. Golden appreciates the improved quality of the lunch food and has observed that older students, particularly the seniors, have been welcoming and "nice to the freshman". Beyond academics and lunch, he is actively exploring extracurricular activities, participating in football and wrestling, and aiming to "get better at it".

Looking ahead, he plans to try out for “track or volleyball.” Johnson Esco, like Golden, is enthusiastic about the social aspects of high school, particularly “the games and stuff like going to the football games,” and she appreciates the “more free will” that comes with being a high school student.

Golden has his sights set on ambitious athletic goals, hoping to “accomplish making it to state for a sport or maybe get on the wall for track.”

Johnson Esco also holds a clear academic ambition of earning “straight A's,” proving that for these freshmen, the new semester is a balancing act of navigating the social landscape, adapting to new academic challenges, and embracing a newfound independence.

Her experience echoes some of Golden’s sentiments, including the adjustment to stricter hallway rules, but her clear academic focus sets a determined tone for her high school career. The adjustment to a new half-period schedule was a notable change for her, yet her enjoyment of social studies shines through as a highlight. For both students, this first semester is a foundational period of personal growth and discovery.