Joy and heartbreak. Achievements and failure. Unforgettable moments. These factors make high school four of the most pivotal years a person ever experiences. The Class of 2023 officially began these four pivotal years at the beginning of the 2019-20 school year, when they embarked on their journey as Freshmen of Hartselle High School. High school offers an exciting experience that is filled with several enjoyable activities. However, high school is notorious for possessing a nature that is similar to that of a rollercoaster; it can have “downs” to accompany its many “ups”. These “downs” come in many forms: stress stemming from an overwhelming amount of coursework, anxiety or fright about a school event, or even sadness and anger concerning relationships with friends. These hardships are difficult for any high school student to face, but they can be particularly troublesome for freshmen to cope with. In order to combat the “downs,” what’s some advice from the HHS upperclassmen that the Class of 2023 can utilize to tackle their freshmen year?
When asked what advice she would give to ninth graders, HHS senior Cassie Der said that she would encorage the freshmen to be themselves. “Try to find who you are,” Der said. “Don’t blend in with everyone else. Be your own person.” Der also advised the freshmen to carry out these actions unapologetically by disregarding “what other people think about you.”
Hannah Watson, a fellow senior at HHS, stated that she would advise the freshmen to maintain a strong work ethic throughout high school. “Just continue to push yourself because it will make you better in life,” Watson said.
HHS junior Stuart Hall’s advise ironically consisted of informing the freshmen to refrain from following the advice of some of the upperclassmen. “Don’t get caught up in what upperclassmen tell you,” Hall remarked. “There’s some pretty bad advice going around.”
The beginning of the 2019-20 school year called for freshmen to face their first year of high school whether or not they were graced with the advice of upperclassmen. So, how are the new ninth graders enjoying HHS? When asked how his first weeks at the high school have been, freshman Dadrian Rice simply responded with “fun.” Rice claimed that the aspect of high school he enjoys the most is the increase in freedom. Although he has enjoyed his time at the high school, Rice has faced some difficulty in finding his classes. “It’s easier to find your classes at the junior high,” he stated. Rice claimed that he would make one change to the high school by incorporating a longer break.
Nolen Ricks said that the beginning of his high school career was fun as well. Like Rice, Ricks greatly enjoys the freedom that HHS offers. “You have longer breaks, and you get to hang out with your friends a lot more than you are able to at the junior high,” Ricks explained. Ricks claimed that the most difficult part of transitioning from junior high to high school is finding classes, and he stated that he would change the high school by ensuring that all same-subject classes are on the same hallways. Though Ricks is excited about his new high school journey, he stated that he misses one thing about the junior high--his favorite teacher, Mrs. Sharp.
Ashley Carlock stated that her first few weeks at the high school have been great. “It’s really fun and doesn’t feel like school,” Carlock said. Like Rice and Ricks, Carlock likes the freedom of HHS the most. When asked what the most difficult part of transitioning from junior high to high school is, Carlock replied with, “The number of students has been difficult to get used to.” Throughout her time in high school, Carlock stated that she hopes to learn how to “get along with others better and how to be more proactive.”
The beginning of high school can be a scary experience, but the Class of 2023 seems to be greatly enjoying their freshman year, and even if they do face trouble, the HHS upperclassmen seem to be willing to offer them sound advice on how to conquer high school.
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