The Forgotten Freshmen
BY ANUSHA SENAPATI '24
Dozens of kids crowd the hallways, trying to find their way to their next class. Their faces are half-covered, and the lines crawl slowly. That is how the first day of high school felt for many freshmen: a blur of masks and confusion. Though usually exciting, the transition from middle to high school has been complicated by the pandemic. Issues concerning COVID-19 frequently overshadow the new 9th grade students, leaving them to struggle in the background. During this pivotal moment in their school career, are freshmen receiving enough assistance to transition smoothly?
On the first day of high school, the biggest challenge for freshmen is finding classes. This struggle was only complicated by the one-way hallways and stairwells implemented because of the pandemic. Although many adults were present and hallways were marked with tape arrows, it was still difficult to navigate. One student recalls that “the day was so rushed. It was hard to follow directions when you could barely hear one another over the masks and rush. On top of that, the tour during the summer wasn’t helpful. Instead, it made the high school seem big and scary.” This student voices a common perspective among freshmen: the pandemic-induced environment had completely altered the first-day experience, leaving many students confused and anxious rather than excited.
The pandemic has also impacted extracurricular activities and sports this year. Thankfully, permitted sports proceeded with some sense of normalcy. With the virus, however, they became more difficult to manage because of remote learning and social distancing mandates. Of course, these requirements cannot be avoided for safety reasons, but what does this mean for freshmen who have never played a high school sport? With the physical barriers of masks and distancing, it is harder to build trust in teammates and communicate effectively. For many, sports usually provide a sense of comfort and a way to unwind, but in these conditions, sports are more stressful than recreational.
Many upperclassmen note that most of their friendships began in clubs or in the classroom. Under normal circumstances, joining a new club can be quite overwhelming—there are just so many choices! However, the pandemic reduced the number of clubs running, which decreases the formidable number of choices but also curbs students’ opportunities to socialize outside of school. Furthermore, the current learning schedule only allows students to socialize in person twice a week, or even less with the remote learning program. This schedule, along with social distancing guidelines, inhibits communication and makes it harder for students to form friendships. Though this applies to all grades, it is particularly difficult for freshmen, who often rely on friends to help navigate the new, high school environment.
As for remote learning, we have all experienced an awkward Zoom moment where a mic was left unmuted or a private message was accidentally sent to everyone. These mishaps and Zoom’s one-by-one speaking format discourage students from asking questions and engaging because it feels like the whole class is watching. Asking questions over email is unreliable, as teachers’ inboxes are flooded daily with notifications from the school and online learning platforms. Usually, students find face-to-face communication much easier, as side conversations can divert attention from private, teacher-student interactions. But, with the decreased time spent in-person, students have struggled more with their school work and feel academically undersupported. This affects freshmen in particular, who have just reached a “turning point” in their lives and are beginning to take their grades and goals more seriously.
Clearly, the pandemic impacts all freshmen, from those who love sports to those focused on academics. Yet, teachers still overwhelm students with homework and tests. And while the combination of academic pressure and pandemic-inspired stress surely impacts all students, many freshmen, who are not used to the workload of high school, feel especially lost in this vital transition. The lack of support and attention amplifies feelings of stress and disappointment as they continue to struggle unnoticed. It is important to recognize the AB freshmen, who are living through one of the most challenging years of their lives, in lieu of one that is usually pivotal and exciting. In a transition that marks the beginning of a different academic experience, freshmen need extra support, especially this year—they must not be forgotten.
On the first day of high school, the biggest challenge for freshmen is finding classes. This struggle was only complicated by the one-way hallways and stairwells implemented because of the pandemic. Although many adults were present and hallways were marked with tape arrows, it was still difficult to navigate. One student recalls that “the day was so rushed. It was hard to follow directions when you could barely hear one another over the masks and rush. On top of that, the tour during the summer wasn’t helpful. Instead, it made the high school seem big and scary.” This student voices a common perspective among freshmen: the pandemic-induced environment had completely altered the first-day experience, leaving many students confused and anxious rather than excited.
The pandemic has also impacted extracurricular activities and sports this year. Thankfully, permitted sports proceeded with some sense of normalcy. With the virus, however, they became more difficult to manage because of remote learning and social distancing mandates. Of course, these requirements cannot be avoided for safety reasons, but what does this mean for freshmen who have never played a high school sport? With the physical barriers of masks and distancing, it is harder to build trust in teammates and communicate effectively. For many, sports usually provide a sense of comfort and a way to unwind, but in these conditions, sports are more stressful than recreational.
Many upperclassmen note that most of their friendships began in clubs or in the classroom. Under normal circumstances, joining a new club can be quite overwhelming—there are just so many choices! However, the pandemic reduced the number of clubs running, which decreases the formidable number of choices but also curbs students’ opportunities to socialize outside of school. Furthermore, the current learning schedule only allows students to socialize in person twice a week, or even less with the remote learning program. This schedule, along with social distancing guidelines, inhibits communication and makes it harder for students to form friendships. Though this applies to all grades, it is particularly difficult for freshmen, who often rely on friends to help navigate the new, high school environment.
As for remote learning, we have all experienced an awkward Zoom moment where a mic was left unmuted or a private message was accidentally sent to everyone. These mishaps and Zoom’s one-by-one speaking format discourage students from asking questions and engaging because it feels like the whole class is watching. Asking questions over email is unreliable, as teachers’ inboxes are flooded daily with notifications from the school and online learning platforms. Usually, students find face-to-face communication much easier, as side conversations can divert attention from private, teacher-student interactions. But, with the decreased time spent in-person, students have struggled more with their school work and feel academically undersupported. This affects freshmen in particular, who have just reached a “turning point” in their lives and are beginning to take their grades and goals more seriously.
Clearly, the pandemic impacts all freshmen, from those who love sports to those focused on academics. Yet, teachers still overwhelm students with homework and tests. And while the combination of academic pressure and pandemic-inspired stress surely impacts all students, many freshmen, who are not used to the workload of high school, feel especially lost in this vital transition. The lack of support and attention amplifies feelings of stress and disappointment as they continue to struggle unnoticed. It is important to recognize the AB freshmen, who are living through one of the most challenging years of their lives, in lieu of one that is usually pivotal and exciting. In a transition that marks the beginning of a different academic experience, freshmen need extra support, especially this year—they must not be forgotten.
