At Danbury High School (DHS), one of the largest high schools in the Northeast, students arrive from three different middle schools – Broadview, Rogers Park, and Westside – each bringing its own experiences and challenges. Transitioning to high school often means facing a heavier workload and a more demanding schedule, which can feel overwhelming for many freshmen during their first few months.
Students who recently entered high school face an adjustment period, and teachers can usually tell where those struggles begin. Janelle D’Isidoro, a DHS english 1 and 3 teacher, says, “It’s tricky because they all come from different schools. One school might focus on one skill set while another focuses on another skill set, and they all teach the content differently.”
One challenge students face when transitioning is social status. Since DHS is such a huge school, many freshmen feel pressure to fit in or find a friend group among thousands of other students. Laura Gudger, a senior at DHS says, “I knew my friends were doing certain things, such as skipping classes, overusing bathroom time and things like that, and being so young and influenced, I wanted to do it too.”
The large age gap between freshmen and seniors can add even more pressure, as younger students can feel tempted to act older or impress upperclassmen. Another difference between seniors and freshmen is their maturity levels– seniors are nearly adults, while freshmen are just beginning their high school journey. Cesar Cordoba, a freshman at DHS says, “The thing I was most afraid of when I first started high school [were the] seniors.”
Another big challenge for freshmen is managing the increased workload and learning how to balance responsibilities. The difference in workload may catch students off guard and many don’t realize the pace of high school until they attend class. They soon realize that the work comes fast and piles up quickly. Sometimes it is hard to balance personal life with schoolwork in the beginning (especially during the first semester).
Although teachers hope students come to school ready to learn, but, not everyone adjusts to high school academics right away. D’Isidoro says, “I don’t think they are overly eager to learn, but over the past couple years they have become less resistant. So they don’t love learning but they also aren’t actively trying to work against us.” Laura Gudger, adds “In freshman year, I slacked off because I didn’t feel like doing any of the work.” To conclude, although it is a difficult switch from middle to high school if you try your hardest then school will slide by fast, just make sure to enjoy it and think smart.