As an incoming freshman at any high school, it sometimes takes a while to settle in. Whether it’s having a difficult time balancing school work or getting repeatedly lost in the hallways, freshmen often struggle to adapt to a high school environment and might be reluctant to ask other students for help. The Northern Star interviewed all grades of upperclassmen to hear what they have to say about freshman etiquette.
“I was a freshman once too and I remember how nervous I was,” senior Jenna Kim said. “[I wish someone would have told me] to not be afraid to go to extra help after school if you aren’t grasping a concept that you learned in class.”
Academically, high school is a huge adjustment from middle school. Older students advise that the freshmen should not be afraid to advocate for themselves, and that it’s normal to struggle.
“It is okay to not ace every quiz. High school’s most important lesson is how to bounce back from failure and overcome obstacles,” senior Eliza Glick said. “Go talk to your teacher about where you went wrong and make sure you understand that skill before moving on. You will learn studying habits and techniques as you go, right now it’s about getting the hang of it.”
Upperclassmen also warn freshmen of the hallway traffic jams between classes.
“One unspoken rule that freshmen should know is the lanes of traffic,” Glick said. “It is not the most convenient to walk in the opposite direction of traffic, that’s how a build-up in intersections occurs. And hypothetically if those traffic jams occur, the best way to overcome them is to keep walking.”
Walking slowly in the hallways never has a positive effect, especially when students nearby are in a rush.
“They need to walk faster,” junior Mia Barbieri said. “It really annoys me when they are on their phone in the hallway and aren’t moving.”
Concerning traffic, seniors also urge freshmen to stick to the drop-off area and to stay out of the senior lot.
“Parents dropping and picking their kids up at the senior lot form a huge traffic jam and make it harder to arrive at school or practice on time,” Glick said. “Though I still am able to be timely, I’d rather not have to worry about extra cars on top of the many already there. Much like the traffic in the hallways, there has to be a rule that is enforced.”
Though freshmen don’t yet have their licenses, it’s their responsibility to tell their parents where they can and can’t be dropped off.
“My sister [was a senior and] helped me when I was a freshman,” sophomore Molly Brisman said. “Dropping kids in the senior lot is not acceptable and dangerous.”
Freshmen should never hesitate to ask anyone, teachers or upperclassman, for help.
“The older kids helped me act like a normal person,” Glick said. “Looking back at where I was as a freshman I was immature compared to the person I am now. The kids in the grades above me taught me the way things were, and I modeled their behavior.”
Looking back on their experience as ninth graders, students are extremely grateful for help from upperclassmen.
“[I’m thankful for older kids] telling me where to go [when] I got lost,” Barbieri said. “[Then] that repetition sinks in very quickly and you get into a cycle of the same classes on loop.”
When asked if they have any other feedback pertaining to this grade of freshmen specifically, upperclassmen just ask that the freshmen treat older students with respect.
“It’s really hard to get adjusted at first,” Brisman said. “[Make sure that you] sit in the back for football games, get equipment for sports, and respect older people. [Other than that], don’t be stressed because it comes easily.”
Students encourage freshmen to make sure they are extra respectful, especially in crowded locations such as football games and the lunch line.
“Don’t throw water [or] start a fight in the middle of lunch, [and] just wait in line like everyone else,” Barbieri said. “[But you should] get the spicy chicken nuggets from lunch line!”
Freshmen should remember that all upperclassmen were once in their shoes, and never feel that they are alone.
“I was once a ninth grader and I understand having to learn the ropes here at NVD,” Glick said. “Though I currently do not relate to the freshmen, I understand their experience [and] I am sympathetic to their transition into high school.”
