We’ve all experienced the mind-bending awkwardness of being a freshman. There is nothing more intimidating than heading up the path to the front door of AHS for the first time. How about the out-of-body, out-of-place feeling that grips you in the belly when venturing into the foreign land that is the upperclassmen-monopolized commons? That feeling is only topped by the stress of locating classrooms during the first week of school. While it may take a little while to figure out the dizzying, experiential mystery that is high school, here are a few tips and tricks gathered from last year’s freshmen (aka this year’s wise, world-weary sophomores) that should help your first year flow as smoothly as possible.

   Tip #1: Jump right in. For some first-year students, intermingling with or meeting upperclassmen may seem like a very scary prospect. Upperclassmen give the impression of being perfectly satisfied with their social hierarchy. However, they are surprisingly open to meeting new people and, more often than not, totally friendly and not particularly intimidating. So don’t be afraid to make eye contact with a senior. After all, they are only human.

“One of my goals for this upcoming school year is to make everyone feel welcome and included. I want freshmen to ask upperclassmen, me in particular, any questions that they may have,” said Ryer Gardenschwartz. “There shouldn’t be a disconnect between the freshman and the upperclassmen.”

   Tip #2: Get involved…in any kind of activity. Immersing yourself in a sport, a club or a group pursuit is the best way to break the ice at school as a freshman. The AHS community is a pretty comfortable, egalitarian environment, where any freshmen should feel totally encouraged to get involved. For many kids, sports provide an incredibly valuable opportunity to get to know older students and dabble in more competitive athletics.

“I am actually looking forward to meeting incoming freshmen,” said sophomore Jane Becnel. “Playing sports is a great way for me to meet freshmen and for them to get a chance to meet older kids too.”

   Tip #3: Embrace academics. After all, academics are really the primary reason why we go to school. Open your mind to learning new things. Get to know your teachers. For a lot of freshmen, a more rigorous academic schedule can be nerve-racking. But this should never discourage you from trying interesting electives or classes that just weren’t available during middle school.

“Don’t be afraid to try new or different classes. You may even end up really liking them,” said sophomore Chase Tullar. “High school is all about exploring.”

“While the academics (at AHS) may be a little more challenging, as long as you remember to stay organized, they really aren’t an issue,” said sophomore Razzi Schlosser.

  Tip #4: You are not alone. “Everyone in high school has been through freshmen year. We all know it can be tough or scary,” said ex-freshman Charlie Van Allen. “But trust me, we can all empathize.”