The start of high school may be exciting, but it will be a big adjustment. There will be new classes, new teachers, new students, and often an entirely new campus to navigate. Your first day may leave you feeling lost and uncomfortable, but give it some time as every big change requires an adjustment period. Rely on friends, teachers, or even older siblings to help you find your classrooms, learn the lunchroom dynamics, find new clubs to explore, and get used to the new academic rigors. Before you know it, you’ll be navigating the new high school scene like a pro.

Freshmen experience truly depends on the person. It’s also a school year filled with lots of change, new friends, increasing responsibilities and expanded academic and extracurricular opportunities. Once school begins, there are important events and programs that continue to support every student, especially the freshmen. It starts with their teachers. Freshman class teachers are assigned to freshman classes because of their keen interest in this age group and track records of success teaching at the freshman level. Freshman teachers quickly become mentors, building a rapport between students and adults that is critical to school connectedness.

High school holds a wealth of opportunities for freshman students to find and interact with friends. From new clubs and organizations, to sports teams and other activities, there’s no shortage of extracurriculars for you to explore. Now is the time to get involved, and there will be plenty of opportunities to do so. You will make new friends and maybe grow out of old ones. The dynamics of high school are much different than in primary and middle school. While it’s common to stay friends with those you have grown up with, new classes and involvement in new activities can lead you to new friendships you may not have considered before. If you’re attending a new school where you know few people, don’t worry, you will get to know your new classmates faster than you think. You’re going to enjoy it.

The start of the high school experience is an exciting time. There’s no doubt that some challenges will lie ahead as you adjust to new academic and social dynamics, but it will be a fun journey. Remember that high school is meant to be educational, enlightening, and the stepping-stone to a college education or career. You’ll learn a lot about yourself your freshman year – which subjects you like, which subjects you don’t, which interests you wish to pursue, and how you want to contribute to your high school community. Freshman year of high school can take some students by surprise in both positive and negative ways. By knowing what to expect when you arrive for your first day, you can mentally prepare for the experience and ease into the transition.