FRESHMAN year is always an exciting time, but it comes with many changes—new teachers, classes, friends, and freedom. The freshmen at Granger High learned to adapt during their first quarter of high school.

Many students agree that freshman year is an opportunity for a fresh start and a time to begin shaping their future. “I feel like freshman year is a time for people to make new friends. Obviously, it’s a lot of people’s first year of high school. So, you must make new friends. Another important thing is keeping your grades up. In high school, a lot of the stuff you do will help you determine your career,” Strahinja Dragicevic (9) said.

Granger High offers a wide range of sports, including baseball, softball, cross-country, track and field, basketball, football, and more. “I’m glad I decided to play sports my freshman year because it gave me the opportunity to make more friends. I’ve made the decision to play all four years because I already love it so much,” Jaxon Haslam (9) said. Haslam has been playing fall ball and encourages other students to explore Granger’s sports programs, noting there’s something for everyone.

For some, the transition to high school brought unexpected surprises. Braslau Simo (9) says his expectations didn’t match the outcome. “West Lake Junior was a very small school. While my 8th grade year was coming to an end, I started to get nervous because I thought transitioning to one of the biggest schools in Utah would be hard for me. Once I got to the school, I realized that it wouldn’t be so bad. Most of my friends from West Lake also came to Granger,” Simo said.

Simo says he enjoys being a freshman at Granger and offers advice to incoming students: “One piece of advice I would give to the class of 2028 at Granger High School is to attend school-related activities, go to things like games, dances, and join clubs,” he said.

Senior Stockton Haslam (12) says his own freshman year and credits extracurricular activities helped him develop key skills. “Playing for the basketball team when I was a freshman was the best choice I made during high school. It helped me build social skills and confidence,” Haslam said.

As the largest school in Utah by population, Granger High, with 898 freshmen, provides countless opportunities for students to meet new people and form lasting connections. With so many new faces, there’s always someone to get to know.