By: Treshawn Ross

As we are starting this new year at Highland, there are many different thoughts and feelings involved. I have asked a few people how they were feeling going into this school year and these are the responses.

9th grade-

Most 9th graders started off this year very nervous and excited. This nervousness is usually caused by not being familiar with the new environment and simply being around new people.

“I’m still having trouble finding my classes,” Camila told me. This is another common problem that the Freshmen are having to tackle. They are making the best of their opportunities though, many are getting involved in extracurricular activities.

10th grade-

The Sophomores are generally more experienced going into this year, which makes them seem more relaxed when compared to their younger peers in 9th grade. Mr. Berndt said “There’s a bit of a learning curve with them, learning to get to class on time. But over the weeks that has slowly trailed off.” Hopefully this experience will inspire their fellow underclassmen to adjust faster.

11th grade-

Many Juniors are feeling a bit apprehensive about this school year. 11th grade has a reputation for being difficult. Abril said “I’m mostly worried about improving my GPA now, it can definitely be important in the future.” The ACT will also weigh heavily on the minds of Juniors towards the end of the school year. Junior year is very stressful but I believe the Juniors can succeed.

12th grade-

Seniors are mostly cruising into this school year; many of them are already beginning to mentor younger students. The curriculum is still rigorous for some students though, Ivy says that she is spending more time studying for math than she used to. This year most Seniors have to focus on not having a “Senior slump”, so they can shift more easily into leadership roles in the school and elsewhere.