For students first entering high school, anticipation and anxiety can overwhelm the first semester. Learning how to deal with homework, homecoming and upperclassmen requires adjustments in order to survive their freshmen year.

Some freshmen were afraid that their apprehensiveness was well-founded. Zed Fries’ soon accepted the truth of his homework-load worries.

“I thought there would be a lot of homework,” Fries said. “Unfortunately, I was right. (Hallie) Rojeski (8th grade teacher) did give us a lot of work, which helped out tremendously, but I still was not expecting as much as I got.”

Although Rojeski aims to prepare her students for high school through her class, the pressures of high school made for a different environment.

“I did not think it would be that bad,” Josh Hopper said. “But I was wrong, some teachers give me more than I thought they would. I did not think that anyone could give me more homework than Rojeski did, but Stobbe has definitely come close.”

Despite unexpected challenges, many freshmen had prepared for the new workload based on which teachers they were given.

“I knew it would be a lot,” Annie Johnson said. “but I was prepared, so it was not as bad as I thought it would be. Rojeski definetly helped prepare me for freshmen English with Stobbe. Also, during the summer, I took a history class so my workload during the school year would be lighter.”

While some students were focused on the work they would be given, but others worried about classes filled with older kids. Morgan Childs was concerned about her Geometry Honors class, wondering if upperclassmen would be rude.

“I was worried I would have to deal with annoying people,” Childs said. “I was very happy when I found out all the people I would have to associate with were very nice and also very helpful. I hope that the rest of the freshmen had the same experience.”

For more information on freshmen, read the Oct. 9 article, Freshmen encounter college pressure, embarrassment.