A Whole New World: Freshmen Discuss Adjusting to Midwood

A group of freshmen relax in the cafeteria. Photo: Stefanie Rykhlo

By STEFANIE RYKHLO, ISABELLA MASON, and JANAYA BRITTO

For some freshmen, the transfer to high school can be seen as entering another world—one where hallways extend forever, classes are more difficult, and expectations suddenly feel higher. It’s a new set of faces, routines, and responsibilities.

Some high schoolers may remember their first day of 9th grade as exciting. For others, pure nerves. “The hallways are a disaster to get through,” said Nicole Shostack. “I have to push my way through while also trying to figure out where I'm supposed to go.”

Most freshmen experience first-day jitters, but they quickly adjust. "I got lost twice before lunch, but by the end of the day, it felt somewhat easier," said Shostack. She said her main worry was "walking into the wrong class and having everyone stare."

Similarly, Sofiia Grinevich kept getting lost on the first day. “The hallways were packed, everyone seemed to know where they were going, and I was just trying to keep up,” she said.

“In middle school there were 500 people in the whole school,” said Jesse Gigliotti. “Now, there’s 1,000 freshmen! It's hard to get used to that, but I kind of like it.”

Subhan Mahmood was “stunned” when he first stepped into Midwood. “Adapting to the size of the school and navigating through the hallways during the five minutes we have to get to class is a skill that takes practice,” he said.

However, freshmen are also given an exciting range of extracurricular opportunities. This year, Midwood has over 100 clubs to choose from.

“My middle school was very poorly funded, so I didn’t have as many clubs or activities,” said Jadine Joseph Edwards. “Midwood is a big shift because there’s so many things you can do — like, unlimited options.”

“I'm surprised at the amount of clubs and afterschool tutoring,” said Robiya Takhirova. “It gives me a chance to find more friends.”

“The most challenging adjustment is learning to balance these extracurricular activities, academics, and personal time,” said Stanley Portman. “Now I barely have any time to hang out with my friends after school like I always did in middle school.”

Silviia Jada tried joining the Debate Team, “but it’s Tuesdays and Thursdays, and I have clubs those days,” she said, “so it’s a lot of overlapping. Just too much that I want to do, but not enough time.” Jada has to balance Badminton, Medieval Manuscript, and the Tea and Film Clubs.

Taking new classes and participating in new activities can lead to new friendships.

“The Step Team is just one big happy family,” said Edwards. “They’re all really kind to each other and have their own inside jokes. It’s really nice to see a community like that.”

“It’s weird not having all my friends in the same classes anymore,” said Karolina Arutunyan. “I didn’t really know anyone in my English class, but I started sitting next to the same people every day, and now we’re friends. It just takes a little patience.”

Freshmen are expected to take greater responsibility for their own education since the workload increases dramatically compared to middle school. “I realized that I must keep on top of homework and fulfill deadlines without reminders,” said Sonya Mnatsakanyan. “Unlike middle school, where teachers give extra time to complete work, high school teachers typically expect students to manage their time and put our education first.”

Even though the freshmen have been enjoying their time, they also have some complaints. Not every adjustment is smooth. Portman is bothered by his long commute to school. “Especially with my 3-10 schedule and the sun setting earlier, I get home around 4:30, and it's already starting to get dark out,” he said. “I get so unmotivated to do anything.”

Grinevich dislikes the bathrooms. “I usually have to travel long distances to get to the nearest bathroom from my class, and when I do, there’s usually a line outside,” she said.

As the weeks pass, freshmen begin to adapt. Familiar faces start to mix with unfamiliar ones, making the crowded hallways feel less intimidating. New students can also rely on their fellow Hornets and the faculty. “The attention is focused on you as a student, which is really good because I feel like the support and guidance are really helpful,” said freshman representative Kaitlyn Ly.

The freshmen are learning how to deal with the challenges and how to find their place in this new chapter of life.

“At first, I felt like [high school] was a very serious thing,” said Ly. “But now, I feel like it’s not as bad as I expected.”

High school is more than simply a place to learn math and history, it's a place for students to grow. While freshmen may begin the year unsure, they will soon enough be able to look back and recognize how far they have gone through the years.

As Mahmood puts it, "High school feels overwhelming right now, but I know I'll figure it out. Everyone says things get better, and I'm starting to believe them."