A Freshman Year Survival Guide

By: Mischa Perzanowski   Published on Jan. 31st 2023

Annually, hundreds of freshmen at Northwest Career and Technical Academy begin the crucial years that will shape their future based on their academic and social decisions; totally not intimidating.

Whether you're worried and scared or 100% prepared and excited, advice from those who have already survived can never hurt. Current first-years, like Sydney Hord, a freshman, continue to reflect on their choices and those they regret or applaud. 

"So far, the worst decision I've made was an academic one: procrastination. Procrastination is so easy to do since I can easily get distracted by my phone or my friends, and it's hard to catch up once I fall behind due to the workload at this school." Hord reveals. 

Besides academics, though, Adriel Dionisio, a sophomore, considers the social aspect of high school. The relationships you make and the bridges you burn affect you since the people you associate yourself with significantly impact the high school experience, and he goes on to reflect on his current and close-knit friend group.

"When the last year began, I only had one friend, but by joining clubs, I branched out and found those who became some of my closest friends to this day," Dionisio recalls, "If you wish to make friends, I recommend joining clubs since it's a given that the people there have similar interests, and if you can try your best to have at least one friend in every class." 

Following Dionisio's comments on clubs and having a friend in at least every class, he states that your friends and social choices can affect how well you handle your workload. 

"If you can, find a meeting place for your friends where you can study and help one another out, and when you're doing work, put the phone down," Dionisio advises, "As you get older, the workload and knowledge you're learning will get more challenging, and using study methods can give you advantage in those later years." 

Overall, freshmen and upperclassmen have the shared ideal that efficiently finishing your work and choosing the right people to befriend will make your life and school life much more comfortable and that these pieces of advice go for all ages.

"In general, don't worry too much since what happens happens. Finding balance within yourself and others will be a complete game changer since anybody that finds academic and social methods that best suit them is capable of passing the years of high school and, essentially, life, and to the future freshmen: I'm sure you'll be doing great, sweetie!" Hord concludes.

Photo Credit: Monkey.Man (website: imgflip.com)