Freshmen walk through the halls a little differently now than they did in August, more confident, more familiar with campus, and carrying memories from their first year of high school. What once felt unfamiliar and intimidating has slowly become routine, and for many students, freshman year was a time to learn lessons both inside and outside the classroom.
Whether it was overcoming setbacks in sports, balancing academics, or learning to step outside of their comfort zones socially, many freshmen discovered lessons that will stay with them long after their first year ends.
For freshman Joey Kuang, track and field became one of the most meaningful parts of her year. Through practices, races and time spent with teammates, Kuang said she learned the importance of resilience and support.
“Being on a team, specifically in track, taught me that there will always be ups and downs, but you will always have your teammates there for you,” Kuang said.
One of Kuang’s most memorable moments happened during a race when she accidentally false-started and was disqualified. Standing on the track disappointed and embarrassed, she said her teammates immediately came to comfort her.
“My teammates rushed to me to check if I was okay,” Kuang said. “In the end, I was cheered up by their company and was definitely excited for my next race.”
Although the moment was difficult, Kuang said it taught her how to recover from mistakes and keep moving forward. She explained that hurdling especially changed the way she approaches challenges.
“Joining hurdles taught me to change my mindset to think that there is always a way around the obstacle,” Kuang said.
Like Kuang, freshman Frankie Ige said freshman year taught her perseverance, especially when it came to academics. Between homework, tests and long study nights, she said she learned that success requires consistency even when motivation disappears.
“Since the beginning of the year, I have learned to push through and persevere even when I did not feel like studying,” Ige said.
She explained that although it was tempting to stop trying once her grades were high, she realized that maintaining good habits would help her in the future. Geometry became one of her most challenging classes this year, forcing her to develop stronger study habits.
“What helped me improve in geometry was watching videos at home, studying and researching on my own time, and asking my teacher for help,” Ige said.
At the same time, Ige learned that constantly working without rest could quickly become overwhelming.
“A lesson that I learned and want to carry into sophomore year is to take a break,” Ige said.
She said taking breaks while studying helped her avoid burnout and retain information better, teaching her the importance of balance alongside hard work.
For freshman Katie Huang, the biggest change this year was becoming more confident socially. Walking into high school for the first time felt intimidating at first, but over time, she became more comfortable meeting new people and trying new things.
“Since the beginning of freshman year, I think I have become less afraid of being social and have interacted with multiple new people,” Huang said.
Freshman year also introduced Huang to new creative interests through one of her classes.
“A hobby I have started is art, since I have been taking Introduction to Art this year,” Huang said.
As she prepares for her sophomore year, Huang said one of the biggest lessons she plans to carry with her is learning to take advantage of opportunities and support systems around her.
“A lesson from this year that I would bring into my sophomore year is to utilize the resources that I am given,” Huang said.
Although freshman year brought stressful classes, difficult moments and new responsibilities, many students said those experiences helped them grow into more confident and resilient individuals. From overcoming obstacles on the track to balancing academics and building new friendships, freshmen discovered lessons that extend far beyond the classroom.
As the school year comes to an end, these students are leaving behind not only their first year of high school, but also much of the fear and uncertainty they walked in with at the beginning of the year.
