I was scared. I was nervous. I was excited. I was ready.

The first day of the school year is always important, especially if it is your first day of high school. Leaving my old middle school behind, I had prepared for this during summer in the Summer Bridge program.

Last August, the time had come. I was a high school freshman.

The first day of high school as a freshman was perhaps one of the biggest days of my life, and one of the most terrifying. Up until then, my friends and I were the “big fish in a small pond.” That small pond was Washington Middle School. And now, we were being tossed into a big lake, with us being the smallest and the newest fish.

However, we were warmly welcomed into the Tiger family by the faculty, staff, and upper classmates of McKinley High School. We had to adjust to a whole new lifestyle and schedule. We had more difficult assignments to complete, along with totally new different due dates. There were new activities introduced to us as well, such as sports and clubs.

Against all odds, I was able to reach the end of the year with passing grades. I feel that the year passed quickly, and I feel that I  have changed and grown a lot.

I have a whole new perspective on the life of a high schooler. I am more confident for my evolution from a freshman to a sophomore. There will be new obstacles ahead, but there will also be new freedoms and advantages.

All I can do is to give it my best, but just as important, have fun and enjoy my freedoms.

To me, high school is the perfect time and place to practice becoming an adult.