Letter to a Freshman

Dear Incoming Freshman,

There’s a few things you should know about coming to this school. It’s totally not what I
was expecting, so take this as my declassified school survival guide. If you get the reference,
you’re a legend. And if you don’t, you’re still a legend.
This school in particular is quite different from the rest. It’s not like Centennial or Legacy
or Cimarron, so the atmosphere is a big change from middle school. It is physically safe for the
most part. There are no fights, but nothing is perfect here either. That being said, avoid toxic
people. By doing this, you will avoid a lot of heartbreak and drama. Don’t be afraid to cut said
persons out. As for academics, this is where things become more stressful. Never forget to study,
especially when it comes to your program area and especially if you are in the Biomedical
program. Always stay on top of your work; homework first, entertainment last. I guarantee you it
feels incredible to finish your school work and then have fun without a worry in the world. You
will receive a lot of work, not everyday, but the workload is much more prevalent than middle
school. I must add though, senior is going to be the hardest year. Please, do not register for every
class to be AP when you register for junior year. You will regret it.
If you have trouble with another peer or even a teacher, confront administration about it.
Get parents involved because administration listens to parents over students. You can also make
great allies with teachers. And just in general, it’s better to be on the good side of a teacher in
general than to make enemies. Never cease fighting for your own justice. If you want to make
more friends, you should join clubs. Try something different. The school has a lot to offer and
you may end up loving a hobby despite having no interest beforehand. That’s how I felt about
weight training. I never saw myself doing that, but then I was recommended to weight club, and I
loved it and I wish to continue for the rest of my life.
Always follow your heart. When it comes to your future and career, don’t be afraid to
change your mind about things. I had difficulty accepting that I didn’t want to be a doctor
anymore, but once I let go, I felt much better. There may be unpleasant things and people who
come your way. Everything in the world is not inevitable. Always find the way to press on; to
fight for what you believe in. There are going to be days when you feel like the world is against
you. Even the smallest of things can bring about the biggest of motivations.
One last thing, there seems to be a long history of upperclassmen not particularly friendly
towards freshmen (especially sophomores and juniors) for a few reasons. Be cool. Don’t bring in
your middle school antics and cliques anymore. The others don’t appreciate the god-complex
that a lot of lower classmen tend to present themselves with. If upperclassmen are being rude to
you for just being a freshman, they’re just jerks. Sometimes the sophomores are way worse than
the freshmen.
I wish you the best of luck.