High school is often described as the best time in people’s lives. “Don’t blink or you’ll miss it” are words that fall out of anyone’s mouth when talking about it. High school is daunting, especially for freshmen. Freshmen go from a hundred people in their grade to multiple hundreds, and college is always a looming thought. Social lives become a real thing and schedules go from empty to full in a split second. As a senior who is president of multiple clubs, has been in Student Government for the past three years, and is a continuous honors and AP student; here is my advice for freshmen that I’ve garnered from my time at Mountain Ridge.

1. Join Something

Club Rush is August 20th and 21st, although it is pretty hard to miss as clubs line up the walkways at both lunches for two days back-to-back. There are so many clubs to join from more rigorous academia-leaning clubs, such as Mock Trial and Speech and Debate, to clubs that are directly linked to future job ideas, like DECA and Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), and finally clubs just for the fun of hobbies, which is the category Fashion Club and Book Club fall into. These are just a few of the clubs that come to mind when I think of activities at Mountain Ridge, which just shows that there is truly a place for everybody and everybody’s interests.

However, clubs are not the only way to get involved on campus. Sports are such an easy way to make good, lasting friendships. Plus, there are a variety of sports that correspond to each season. Many people are able to juggle multiple sports per school year. As well, there are multiple no-cut sports, if that is a worry. Some of these sports include swim, cross country, and track. Freshmen teams are a widely joined activity as some sports are overflowing with people, which includes football and soccer. 

Some other extracurricular activities take up just as much time as sports. Theater is always bustling with activity. The actual production each semester is the main focus, but many times rehearsals are not the sole focus for the theater department as a whole. The Trap Door Society is the theater club that is only for fun and does not directly have anything to do with the main stage play. There are also multiple crews that run the play. You can join the props crew to make what can be seen on stage or you can direct the lighting itself to allow people to see what is on stage. 

Overall, there is so much to do within Mountain Ridge’s walls. Probably too much to do, but the possibilities are endless and there is nothing better than having access to options.

      2. Balancing Everything

Grades, games, clubs, dances: welcome to the beginning of mapping out plans! Grades matter for colleges starting freshman year, but there is no shame in spending more time with friends rather than studying for a test. It all depends on what matters most to you. It is a personalized situation, but important to consider nevertheless when high school starts and the plans start funneling in. 

Honors classes and, later, AP classes are tough, point-blank. If you want to pursue them, the best thing to do is listen to what the grade ahead of you thinks. While I am not saying to be discouraged if you hear a class is hard, it is important to understand what you are getting yourself into before you have no out. The advice of others can carry you far, especially when age gaps are not large and you can take classes with other grades.

Personally, when I started high school, I was not prepared for the influx of plans. Studying for biology tests, going to football games, and joining new clubs was one side of my life while the other half was spent sleeping as I was getting adjusted to the new, longer schedule. It took me a while to learn I really needed to plan time with family or I would get swept up with everything that found its way onto my plate. Also, I did not listen to the opinions of others like I should have, resulting in a long, arduous year in AP Physics when that could have been avoided.

      3. Be Involved

This last step may sound redundant, but it holds a different meaning in this context. Spirit weeks, sports events, color days—these are all days in which a fun dress code is set. School spirit is a reflection of the student body, and it is fun to be a part of something larger than yourself. Color days are super easy to dress up for: freshmen are green, sophomores are yellow, juniors are orange, and seniors are pink. However, it is not just for spirit week. Many sports games have a theme attached, and the stands will be full of people representing it. Taking the time to prepare an outfit that matches the theme is fun and allows a good opportunity to grab pictures with friends. A simple action can help you feel more involved and show you care. 

High school is a busy time; but, just as much as you are busy day-to-day, it will fly by. I have learned that it is best to throw yourself into something wholeheartedly. You can always stop, but it is best to give something a try rather than spend time wondering about the “what-ifs”. High school is what you make it; and if you want it to be one of the best times of your life like adults who came before you, you can. Join something, keep your balance, be involved, and make memories to last a lifetime!