Over 1,000 confused and bewildered freshmen flooded the congested hallways of their new world on Sept. 8 as they set foot in high school for the first time. Changes such as a huge, maze-like campus, and giant student population, never fail to baffle freshman year after year. On the first day of school, most freshman have similar fears: getting lost or crushed on the way to their next class.

“There’s way more kids and it’s kind of harder to find your classes,” freshman Nick Zertuche said. “I felt kind of scared on the first day because I thought I would get lost.”

Adjusting to going from a school of about 1,400 students to a school of over triple that amount is not easy, but the newcomers will learn to deal with it eventually, just like their predecessors.

Every cloud has a silver lining;however, as others choose to look at the situation from a much brighter perspective.

“I think it’s good having more students because you get to meet and socialize with different kids,” freshman Valeria Pedraza said.

Apart from struggling with the swarming crowds and puzzling campus, freshmen are also having to adjust to the idea of no longer being the big fish in the pond, but being far from it. Not to mention all the stereotypes out there that haunt freshmen where ever they go.

“I feel as if I’m swimming in a big pool filled with sharks,” freshman Jorge Rodriguez said. Socially or academically, freshman usually come across something new and challenging.

“The teachers expect a lot from you now that you are in high school,” Pedraza said.

A special assembly for freshmen and new students was held on Thursday, Sept. 16 to give them the 101 on what to expect, some guidance on the rules, and other useful information. At one point or another, others have been in their shoes and sooner or later, today’s freshman will learn to accommodate to their new world. Just like the rest of the student population, freshmen look forward to making new friends, having fun at the football games, the grand opening of the new cafeteria, and dread waiting in lunch lines. They do, however, tend to have a greater difficulty finding their friends during snack and lunch than everyone else, but they will grow out of that like they will grow out of their oversized backpacks and their habit of running to class five minutes before the bell rings. Best of luck, freshmen!