by Ismael Angulo & Alina Cuen
Every new school year at Pueblo High School, many freshmen seem to struggle to transition to high school—from being “kings/queens of the hill” in middle school to feeling insignificant as ninth graders in a new environment.
Even though we’re close to the end of the first semester, several freshmen admitted that they were challenged by their first few days at Pueblo back in August—including getting lost finding their classes or being confused about which lunch to take. Now, at the near-end of the first semester, most freshmen have found a routine and admit to enjoying their new school. Truly, they have found their ways…
Kortez Rodriguez, one of the more than nearly 500 freshmen this year at Pueblo, said, “This first quarter wasn’t as confusing as it could have been for me because a lot of upperclassmen helped guide me. Not all upperclassmen hate freshmen!”
Transitioning from a middle school to a high school can be a big milestone for many freshmen.
Freshman Eve Woods feels proud of herself to have earned a perfect GPA for first quarter, but she admits that she had her share of personal challenges.
“It was difficult to put myself out there,” Woods said. “But, in the end, I found that being involved in volleyball really helped me to meet new people.”
Woods suggest that all freshmen should become involved with an activity because it will help them to establish new friends and to help them feel that they are part of a community.
Another freshman, Issac Palomo, said that making new friends has been his biggest struggle.
“I came to Pueblo from Pueblo Gardens, and only friend from that school came with me here,” Palomo said.
“I plan to get involved with sports,” Palomo added, “and this will hopefully help me to make more friends at Pueblo.”
Pueblo counselor Ms. Marian Finley said that freshmen have many opportunities to transition smoothly into high school.
“Freshman Experience is a great program for incoming freshman, and this past summer, we had a record number of participants,” Finley said. “Each student gained high school exposure and one-half credit to start off their freshman year.”