Question: What’s one or two pieces of advice you would give to this year’s freshman class?
“The best advice I could give freshman students is to enjoy their year and not complain about wishing they were older. You might not think this is true, but high school flies by. I can barely believe that I’m already a senior.” Bruna Custodio (12)
“Don’t stress too much about your classes. I was so worried about my classes that I never really got a change to go to the football games and other events that were fun.”Shreeya Jethwa (10)
“One, be prepared for anything and everything. Two, choose friends wisely.” Emily Russell (12)
“It gets better! Hang in there! Don’t focus on dumb things like drama and relationships. Just focus on school, what you love the most, and value your friendships because you’ll need them!” Ryan Terrett (11)
“Stick with your REAL friends and stay out of drama.” Jaelyn Rice (10)
“One, BUY A PLANNER. I beg of you. I didn’t get a planner until sophomore year and it was so helpful. Organization is key, y’all! Two, force yourself to step out of your comfort zone. Take an AP class, join a club, audition for chorus! It might seem hard or you may feel embarrassed trying something new, but in the end, you won’t regret it!” Toni Keene (12)
“Study hard and take a break.” Otso Hirvela (11)
“People are more focused on what others are thinking about them than they are on you. Try not to stress about the small stuff.” Kate Bentley (10)
“I would tell this year’s freshmen to stay organized. It’s crucial that you have your work organized. I don’t remember how many times I was about to turn a paper in, couldn’t find it because of the mess in my bag, and ended up getting a zero only to find it a week later.” Maya Oulhadj (10)
“Always be open-minded and start a conversation with the kid sitting next to you.” Kaylie Rustman (12)
“Listen to your teachers in class while they are teaching instead of just going on your phone because it will make studying for tests 100 times easier.” Giulia Caucchioli (10)
“Make sure to keep up with your assignments and don’t procrastinate or you will fall behind, and it’s pretty hard to catch back up. Also ask for help if you ever need it because it will make freshman year a lot easier if you just ask about something instead of trying to figure it out on your own.” Madison Golden (10)
“Point one: set aside time for work and time for leisure. Point two: bring a jacket to Mr. Thoreson’s class.” Eleftherios Sparos (10)
“I would tell this year’s freshmen to be the friend that you want to have. Everyone is nervous! I would also tell them to get involved with clubs and/or sports as a way to meet new people.” Caroline Danzi (10)
“Don’t take classes just because your friends are or because you want an AP credit. Your schedule will be way more enjoyable if you’re actually interested in what you’re learning.” Rowan O’Flanagan (11)
“Don’t force hard classes, take healthy risks, have fun.” David Russ (11)
“Take an AP class freshman year! It sets you up for next year and gives you an advantage knowing how the College Board works and how to study for when you’re a sophomore and junior!” Tatiana Coll (10)
“I would advise them not to worry too much and to pay attention in class! They shouldn’t forget that they can do whatever they set their minds to do. And stay positive!” Clémentine Locqueville (10)
“Stay on the right side of the hall as much as possible, and if you’re upstairs travel upstairs until you absolutely have to go downstairs.” Hannah Woodside (10)
“I would tell the freshmen to stay as organized as possible, especially since we are all struggling with Canvas. Staying on top of assignments helps you out because it eliminates the stress of uncertainty. Homework can be a lot, but if you keep track of it, it becomes much more manageable.” Erin Moffitt (12)
“If you’re one of those people who like to push themselves and always strive for that A no matter what, just go take a nap. Don’t let school control your life. It isn’t the end-all be-all of our lives and you need to value the years you have in high school. I’ve made this mistake and didn’t realize until I was stuck in quarantine with nothing to do. I realized how much fun life is and now I regret valuing school over my family. So, if you want to excel academically without losing your time, manage your time well and set boundaries for yourself. Know when something is out of your reach, like an AP class, and make sure you do your work during the opportunities you have during the school day, such as at lunch or in a class that doesn’t require too much work. Overall, realize that when you overwork yourself and choose school over everything it damages you as well as the others around you, so please value the time you have and don’t let school control you.” Hailey Teasley (11)
“If you find and surround yourself with great people now, then you will grow with those people and forever have them in your life.” Gabrielle Roepke (12)
“Two pieces of advice I would give to the freshman class are: don’t overwork yourself and try new things! Even though many new courses are offered, and you want to do almost anything to make yourself stand out in college applications, don’t overwork yourself. Leave time to be a teenager, relax, and have fun in high school. You’re only here once. Plus, being in a new environment can lead to you being exposed to new things (e.g. clubs, sports) that high school has to offer. Take advantage of these opportunities and try them out. Not only will it help you meet new people but it can also be something fun and exciting to do!” Madelyn Arena (12)
“The worst thing you could possibly do is procrastinate. I could’ve been so much more organized and not stressed last year if I actually did my assignments a little early.” Mia Nguyen (10)
“Don’t procrastinate because your assignments and due dates will catch up with you and make you way more stressed than you need to be.” Emily Perry (10)
“Work hard and pay attention in class.” Nate Thomas (10)
“Just keep on top of your work because it’s super easy to fall behind. Do not be afraid to ask questions because it will only get harder if you don’t. Socially, just know who your friends are and don’t be afraid to branch out and try new things. Clubs are something to definitely get involved in because they are so much fun and you meet so many new people! Overall, just have fun!” Ryann Weaver (10)
“One piece of advice I would give to this year’s freshman class is manage your time wisely because balancing schoolwork and fun is tricky business.” Rachel Bell (10)
“Wear your mask over your mouth and nose, it isn’t cool to be unhealthy.” Juliet Boos (11)
“One, surround yourself with people who will build you up and encourage you, not those who are secretly competing with you because the people you surround yourself with is the person you’ll end up becoming. Two, ‘check yourself before you wreck yourself.’ You guys still have three years ahead of you, one wrong move could end up negatively impacting your future.” Hannah Chau (12)
“Enjoy every moment of high school. Before you know it, it’ll be your senior year and you’ll be walking across the stage. Start on college apps EARLY, like the summer in between junior and senior year. It saves a lot of headache and stress in the beginning of senior year. Also don’t stuff paper towels in toilets or sinks…” Matthew van Wert (12)
“For this year’s freshman class: stay on top of your work! Even though procrastinating may seem easier, think ahead about what you could be doing to reduce the amount of time you spend on your work each night. I know that a lot of you are taking your first AP this year, and although it may seem stressful, getting your time management skills down will benefit you for the rest of your life. So, start now!” Bridget Wiese (10)
“Be who senior-you would be proud to be. Be original and do not stick to the path taken, do not be afraid to grow and express who you are as you evolve as an individual. Live life and enjoy the big and small things; you will never be a high schooler again so why hold back? Have the most fun you’ve ever had but please be smart. You will learn more about life and people in these four years than all the years you have lived before. Cherish your friends and embrace them for who they are. Be selfish with your own happiness and do not sabotage that to keep others happy. Godspeed freshmen.” Paul Moriel (11)
“Actually study for your tests, don’t push it aside. Get as many necessary credits out of the way as possible! I did this, now I have two classes my senior year.” Maddey Rancourt (12)
“People don’t care what you wear and failing your classes does not make you cool.” Isabelle Reed (10)
“One, join clubs and be involved in school. Two, never be scared to ask for help!” Jessica Cortes (11)
“Some advice that I would give the freshmen would be to always try your best every day. However, your best will vary each day and that is okay. Also pick a group of friends who will always have your back no matter what situation. If the group of friends changes that is okay as well because everyone is trying to grow personally and socially.” Annika Johnson (12)
“Work hard from day one. Once you fall behind in schoolwork it takes a lot to get back on track.” Lulu Jordan (10)
“Stay organized and find ways to get involved around the school, it’ll help you in the future.” Gabriella Gonzalez (11)
“One, it’s okay to take APs to boost your GPA but make sure you leave time for yourself; high school is meant to be fun. Two, go to school events like football games and homecoming. Before you know it, it will be your last one.” Sydney White (12)
“‘If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.’ – Sun Tzu, The Art of War.” Shakeel Abbasi (11)