As the school year comes to an end, students wonder how the next year will go. Freshmen finally finish their first year of high school, sophomores wrap up their last year of being underclassmen, juniors start getting excited for their last year of high school, and seniors, at long last, head off into their future. 

Freshman Neha Naga Balaji sees the school differently now than she did before. “I feel like you just gotta go with the flow, do the work on time and you’ll be alright,” Naga Balaji said. “It goes by within a blink of an eye, and it feels like my first day was yesterday.” 

Naga Balaji wonders how sophomore year will go next year. “I feel like sophomore year is gonna be like how I felt about freshman year last year at first,” Naga Balaji said. “I am taking harder classes, so I’m pretty scared.” 

Sophomore Davina Thongpraset claims that sophomore year was similar to  freshman year. “We are all still in like the beginning of high school in a way, so it doesn’t feel too different to me,” Thongprasert said. 

Being a freshman was a struggle for Naga Balaji. “It’s really hard to come to high school for the first time not even knowing how it works and having the upper grades think all of us are annoying and stupid as a whole,” Naga Balaji said. 

Despite the similarities, Thongprasert noticed a difference from freshman year to sophomore year. “The only difference is that you realize how much closer you are to being almost done, and time seems to be really faster than usual since it’s picking up pace,” Thongprasert said. 

Thongprasert also noticed an academic difference. “I also think that workload is a lot more since you are trying to get into harder classes and such,” Thongprasert said. 

Junior Leslie Champion considered her perspective on high school has changed since freshman year, “It started out seeming like this big step, but now being in high school, I realize the big step is really college and what happens after high school,” Champion said.

Thongprasert believes junior year will be much harder. “I think it’s because I’m closer to senior year and I want to get everything done so I won’t have a stressful senior year,” Thongprasert said. 

Thongprasert is planning on doing more difficult classes next year, and plans on how she can prepare for them. “I’m always actively updating my calendar and schedule so I can start studying for my SAT, and I won’t fall behind in classes,” Thongprasert said.

Similarly, Champion wondered what her senior year would be like. “[It’s] exciting and a little sad, but it’s the last step [before] college,” Champion said. “It’ll probably be stressful trying to get all the college applications in.” Champion believed that sophomores should prepare themselves, “to start planning for college starting junior year, and not to leave it all for senior year, and study for your SAT,” Champion said.

Senior Jenna Whaley looked back at how her impression of high school has changed, “It’s not as scary as I thought it was going to be. It definitely has changed a lot though, especially with me moving half way in high school,” Whaley said. Whaley felt that going to two different high schools has changed her perspective, “seeing as now I feel my workload is easier,” Whaley said.  

Champion considered her perspective on high school has changed since freshman year, “It started out seeming like this big step, but now being in high school, I realize the big step is really college and what happens after high school,” Champion said.

Thongprasert noticed several changes from freshman year to now. “I want to say I’ve gained a lot more confidence in talking to people, at the beginning I was really scared, but it’s been a lot easier,” Said Thongprasert.

Whaley also has advice for freshmen.  “I would say high school isn’t all that bad. You will meet some amazing people and although you’ll miss the friends you’ll make in freshman and sophomore year, you’ll make many more friends in junior and senior year,” Whaley said.  You made it one year, there’s only three more to go! You all are amazing and will go on to do amazing things,” Whaley said. 

Champion has advice for future freshmen: freshmen “To try [your]best, and to not slack off on these four years” Champion said. Champion didn’t believe that junior year is the most difficult year. “It’s not true. Junior year has been easier than sophomore year, so don’t worry about it,” said Champion. 

Whaley reminded juniors of their time left in high school,” Your senior year is going to go by so fast. It will feel very slow in the beginning, but it will speed by. “Applying to college is definitely a hard adventure,” Whaley said. 

Whaley warns  juniors to always be mindful of themselves. “Take care of yourself physically and mentally. It’s okay not to be prepared or ready to be an adult, but you’ll get through it,” said Whaley.