Exploring Different Perspectives: Freshmen vs Senior
Gia Mai, staff writer
The first few weeks of high school can feel like a completely different world for a freshman. The hallways are crowded, the building is unfamiliar, and the workload is heavier than what many students are used to. For senior Sam Bae, those same hallways have become familiar. After three years of experience, Bae knows the routines, teachers and expectations. For freshman Matthias Lee, however, a normal school day is still about adjusting, meeting new people and learning how to navigate high school.
Bae's day begins around 7 a.m. After hitting the snooze button, checking Instagram and getting ready, Bae heads to school. Breakfast is usually skipped before starting the school day with physics.
“I have a lot of fun learning in physics,” Bae said. The senior then moves to orchestra, followed by flex. For Bae, flex is an opportunity to take a break from schoolwork and spend time with friends. “I really enjoy flex because I get to talk to my friends.”
For Lee, even getting through the morning can require more adjustment. As a freshman, he is still learning his way around the school building, figuring out schedules and becoming familiar with teachers. Passing periods that seem routine to a senior can be stressful for someone who is still learning where everything is.
“I still have to check where I’m going sometimes because everything is new,” Lee said.
The workload can also be a challenge. Freshmen are introduced to longer assignments, more tests and different expectations from each teacher. Instead of relying on teachers to remind them about every assignment, students are expected to keep track of their own work.
“Sometimes I have a lot of homework from different classes at the same time,” Lee added.
Academically, the two students are also at different stages. Freshmen are generally building the foundation they will need for future courses, while seniors have more opportunities to take advanced classes. Bae's schedule includes AP Spanish and AP Calculus, along with physics and economics. Bae has also experienced difficult workloads, but three years of high school have provided more practice with managing them. He has learned how to prioritize assignments, prepare for tests and communicate with teachers when help is needed.
“I’m better at managing my time now because I’ve had more practice,” Bae said.
“Taking harder classes makes me feel more prepared for college,” Bae explained.
“I’m mostly trying to get used to high school right now,” Lee said. Instead of worrying about college applications, testing and deadlines, freshmen are often focused on passing their current classes, making friends and figuring out what they enjoy.
The social experience is another major difference. Lee entered a school filled with new faces and had to adjust to meeting students from different backgrounds and grade levels. Freshmen can also feel pressure to find a friend group and fit into a new environment. Joining sports teams, clubs and other activities can help students meet people, but putting themselves out there can be intimidating.
“Meeting new people was one of the hardest parts at first,” Lee said., “You don’t really know everyone yet.”
Bae has had more time to build friendships and become comfortable socially. After several years at the school, Bae has friends from different classes and activities and is more comfortable communicating with teachers.
The difference in independence becomes even clearer after the final bell. Bae walks home, gets ready and goes to soccer practice and eventually returns home for dinner and homework. Bae also has a job, adding another responsibility to an already busy schedule.
Lee's after-school routine is more focused on schoolwork, activities and adjusting to the responsibilities of being a high school student. While freshmen may have fewer responsibilities outside of school, they are still learning how to balance homework, friendships and extracurricular activities.
The senior's freedom also comes with a different kind of pressure. College applications, standardized tests, scholarships and deadlines become increasingly important as graduation approaches. Bae has to balance those responsibilities with advanced classes, soccer, work and a social life.
The hallways may stay the same, but the experience changes. From learning how to find your place as a freshman to learning how to manage independence as a senior, high school is a gradual process of becoming more confident, responsible and prepared for life beyond the school doors.