Not only are freshmen adjusting to COVID protocols, but also getting used to the high school workload. 

“There is so much more work, like, I’m lucky I don’t procrastinate because if I did that would be horrible for me,” said freshman Thomas Stuart.

The workload has evidently grown compared to middle school, and since teachers have multiple other classes to tend to, they can’t always keep individual students on track. Learning time management is an important factor. 

“It’s really easy to fall behind,” said freshman Nyada Strong.

It’s also very important for students to advocate for themselves.

“If a student is falling behind in their classes they should first and foremost go to the teachers of those classes. They can set up times to make up work and come up with a plan to get caught up,” counselor Mrs. Lynch said.

With the increase in work and COVID cases fluctuating constantly, anxiety and mental health has also been a big issue for students.

“After being online for a whole year, I kinda lost my social skills, so I get more anxious and nervous than I used to before,” says Thomas Stuart.

When a student is struggling with their mental health, they should seek help from others.

“Talk to a trusted adult - whether that's a parent, school counselor, or someone else, and if they can then chat with their school counselor we can share some resources to help them get the right support,” counselor Mrs. Matchak said.

Even though freshmen have been struggling, they should always feel free to reach out to a teacher, or staff member. 

“If a student would like to talk, they can send us an email to get a time set up or stop by to make an appointment. We love sitting face to face with kids!” Mrs.Lynch said.