Eshal Firoze | The Chronicle
As a new school year begins, days are filled with unfamiliar routines, different crowds, and the freedom to start fresh. A month into this school year, Mason High School’s (MHS) freshmen have moved beyond their eighth-grade selves and are beginning to see what it’s like to truly adapt. From new faces to new half, freshmen have begun to immerse themselves in the high school experience, doing things like going to the Friday night football games, exploring new friend groups, and overall jumping headfirst into every opportunity.
For some students, the transition from eighth grade to freshman year has been difficult. Freshman Brookelyn Adkins takes time to recognize the upside of such a big change.
“I like not knowing everybody. There’s always someone new you can build a connection with,” Adkins said.
She said that the biggest change was the newfound feeling of independence, having more control over her day, a larger social circle, and the opportunity to interact with different people. Adkins said she hadn’t expected to feel that community aspect at first, but being part of activities and sports like water polo and softball really strengthened her network within MHS.
While Adkins finds her place within the high school through sports, other students, such as freshman Brandon Skidmore, have found their sense of self in music, taking part in choir and Notorious, a school a cappella ensemble.
“I don’t necessarily have a group, I kind of float around with whatever friends I can find. Sometimes it’s great, sometimes it’s not.” Skidmore said.
Skidmore expressed how being part of things like Notorious and a cappella helps him find his belonging, as the people around him share the same interests. Despite not having everything figured out, Skidmore expressed how he discovered his enthusiasm for music and theatre by drawing inspiration from his life and peers, and eventually performing his own music
“I released my first full-length album two days before school started. Music is really how I’ve found myself.” Skidmore said.
As Skidmore pursues his passion through the lens of music, Freshman Liana Kim shows hers through being one of the few underclassmen on the Mason Women’s Varsity Soccer team. This year, she is learning to balance the demands of competing with upperclassmen while also navigating her first year of high school.
“Being on varsity has made me more of a go-with-the-flow person, [I] go to the dinners, [I go to] practice, and contribute in any way I can, even if that means not playing a lot,” Kim said.
Like many student-athletes, Kim reflected on the internal pressure that comes with playing at a high level. For Kim, balancing the physical load is just as important as the psychological one.
“I struggle with the mental part of it — when I make a mistake, it stays in my head for a long time,” Kim said
Kim said that although the pressure of performing can sometimes be overwhelming, she is reminded of her support system through all the small traditions that the team upholds.
“I love wearing the varsity jackets on game days. It makes you feel like a part of something, especially as a freshman.” Kim said
Whether through a sports team or any of the many other student activities here at MHS, freshmen all over are discovering where they fit in all throughout the school.
Freshman Senudi Arambewela is one of the 9th grade class officers for Student Government this year. As a newly elected officer, Arambewela reflected on how she was apprehensive at first and took time to settle in with the more experienced upperclassmen.
“The first week that I became an officer, it was a little hard,” Arambewela said. “At first, [I]feel intimidated because [I didn’t] know anyone, but even though it’s only been a few weeks, these people feel like family.”
Arambewela said that changing her perspective on school allows her to work through the stress that comes with it, and how school no longer feels like a chore to her.
“Getting involved changes how you view school,” Arambewala said. “Some people think it’s just a place to learn and go home. I want to actually live the high school experience.”
