Our generation grew up with movies like High School Musical and Mean Girls, but the truth is they give us unrealistic expectations for how our high school experience is going to be. 

Freshman classes in the past few years have had unique challenges presented to them, along with entering a new school. COVID has impacted us all in many ways, but some students feel it’s especially hard. Freshman Jenna Clark said that COVID not only limited social events but affected the classroom with its social distancing and limits on group work. Some students find it hard that they are starting high school in a unique way with all the restrictions or even the mask policy.

Some freshmen were looking forward to their school year on the field. Freshman Collin Petrella said, “I was looking forward to soccer season.” At some high schools, like North Kingstown, one of the most significant changes from middle school is the broader variety of sports to participate in. Students are excited to meet new people at their school, all while playing a sport they love.

Other freshmen, like Bri Cronin, expected to enjoy the social aspect of high school the most. She was excited about all the new people she’d meet at the bigger school. “I knew I wanted to make new friends; and that was definitely a big one on my list. And I wanted to be more involved in the school.” And so far, she said, it’s going pretty well. 

Cinema might’ve given us false hope that we’d dance on tables at lunch, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s not so bad.