STARTING high school is one of the scariest moments in every 8th grader’s life. Entering those high school doors is extremely scary, not knowing what high school will hold.

They all have different experiences, whether or not they have huge friend groups. Some may be excited for the next school year, while others are ready to get high school over and graduate. A few of these kids may already know which college they want to attend and what they want to major in.

“I was a little bit nervous coming into the building, but I think I was more excited than nervous if anything,” Jayden Corrales (9) said. “I would say I know my way around pretty well. I do forget the names of the halls frequently, but I could still get around,” Corrales said. Most first-year students are doing pretty well in their classes. “My first semester is going pretty well. I’ve been able to keep up with my classes and grades. All the extracurricular activities have been fun as well. I am excited for the next years to come. High school has been pretty cool so far, and I don’t see how the other years could get any worse,” Jayden said.

Dowley Subr (9) is also excited about the high school years ahead. “I am very excited about the next few years because I can be involved in more school stuff,” Dowley said. “I was nervous coming into the building on the first day of school, because I would be going to school with adults, and I’m in the youngest class,” he said.

It’s very helpful when freshmen know their way around the building and can adapt quickly to the map. “I do know my way around the building, and my first semester is going good; it’s pretty easy to keep my grades up,” Subr said.

Another Freshman agrees that it’s helpful to know the map. “ I was nervous at first coming in, considering I didn’t know where everything was, but I do 100% know my way around Granger now,” Ayana Silk (9) said. Freshman year has been a little challenging for some. “My first semester is going pretty well, but some subjects are hard, while others aren’t. I’m excited for my next school year to come because I will know what classes to choose from,” Silk said.

While most freshmen enjoyed the first semester, some hated it. “I hated my first semester of high school, but I am making a lot of new friends,” Blen Naomi (9) said. Naomi is more excited for the future. “I am definitely excited for the next few years because I will get more opportunities once I am in the higher grades,” Naomi said.

Whether it’s knowing the way around the school, getting involved, or making new friends, it seems like these freshmen are fitting right in already. They are excited about the years to come, and as they do, they get more opportunities to further their education.