As the first semester comes to an end and winter break begins to come closer, freshman students are reflecting on their new experiences to high school. The freeing feeling of the first half of the year being over, mixed with feelings of excitement and nervousness, are what most of the Class of 2029 are thinking. Nina Hackney; Freshman, says “My first semester here was an interesting introduction to high school,” Her schedule especially has lots of classes with upperclassmen and older kids, which made the experience a little intimidating yet also exciting. She liked to observe how those of other grades acted in their classes, shaping the way she thought about school and how to go about growing both academically and socially.
When asked about what she enjoyed about Sunlake, she said, “I really enjoy how much we’re able to do at Sunlake, more than other schools. There’s a lot of clubs, there’s a lot of classes, there’s a lot of different people, and overall, a wide range of things to do.” The diversity of our student body and the large amount of student-led clubs is one of the special things about our school; there are so many opportunities to join communities and form bonds with those around us. Nina has already joined the Art Club as well as Key Club, which are great ways to be a part of the community. To her, the best thing about being in Art Club was that she’s able to create and share her art with others that share the same interests, especially as art is something she’s passionate about.
On the flip side, there were definitely moments of stress for many students during the first semester. Nina says, “In semester one, I was stressed near the end of the quarter because all my work from before was piling up and needed to be submitted quickly.” To manage her stress, communicating with her teachers and controlling her time management helped her overcome those burdens.
As winter break approaches, freshmen like Nina Hackney are beginning to find their footing. Overall, the first semester serves as a meaningful introduction to high school, helping students grow academically, socially, and personally as they look ahead to the rest of the year.
