August has brought on a set of challenges differing from the “regular” issues of 2020, as schools are currently transitioning to hybrid or distance-learning. The freshmen, however, are the least equipped out of all of the grade levels. High school can be daunting for many students, but joining a new school without actually entering the school can be confusing. Though seniors may be online for their last year of high school, freshmen have had to adapt the most by balancing what they have heard about high school with what their reality is.

Brooke O’Sullivan, a freshman at AHS, has adapted well to the academic changes they’ve experienced, both by shifting online and entering the high school. Despite adapting well, she has noticed some gaps in how she imagined high school to be.

“I feel like [online school] definitely takes away the freshman experience of having the chance to meet upperclassmen and figure out how we want to guide ourselves through high school,” O’Sullivan said.

A fellow freshman, Gia Henrichon, feels that online school has delayed her inauguration into high school and has also changed the expectations of entering high school.

“Some of us students don’t really know our way around the high school yet. I just feel that we aren’t really in high school yet,” Henrichon said.

Coming into freshman year, one hears stories about the unique aspects of high school. However, Bridger Thompson, another AHS freshman, has yet to experience Ex Ed and the environment of the commons, a few of AHS’ notable qualities.

“It is hard to say what I am excited about in my freshman year because we cannot do the things that I was excited to do this year,” Thompson said.

“It has been less nerve wracking and pretty easy to adapt because you don’t have to be around the scarier aspects of starting high,” O’Sullivan said. “In addition to that though, I feel like we also are missing out on the social aspect of being in high school and surrounding ourselves with people who are older than us.

Even though many aspects of high school are different from what freshmen expected, these three freshmen are hopeful for when they can truly have the high school experience.

“I’m just excited to get to know so many new people, even if it’s virtual, and have a great time,” Henrichon said.