Hello freshmen, and welcome to Brookfield Central. These next four years are going to be fantastic for you and if you play your cards right, high school just might end up being the best time of your life. There are a number of ways to expedite your time in these halls, both in planning and practice.

     First off, a common fear of freshmen is getting lost. Regardless of how many times you walk through your schedule in the summer, everything looks different once it is filled with people. Don’t worry, there are plenty of upperclassmen around that would be happy to help you on your way, you just have to ask. The upperclassmen are not as scary as you may think. In fact, most will help you get to class on time and familiarize yourself with the school. Just be sure to ask for a teacher, not a room number. Nobody actually knows room numbers anymore.

     The second pressing issue is the passing time between classes. Yes, your lockers and classes are more distant than they were in middle school, but you also have eight minutes, which lasts much longer than you might think. Somewhat related is what you need to bring to class. Many teachers will give you a list of supplies they would like you to bring in addition to a nice, hefty textbook. You should always ask first, but odds are you will never need to lug it to class every day (unless it’s the giant orange brick that is affectionately known as the English 9 textbook). The “freshman backpack” can be quite a versatile companion, giving you extra minutes in between classes to grab asome water, borrow the lavatory, socialize, or cram for your test next hour (NOTE: the TYRO staff and members neither condone nor recommend the act of cramming). Personally, I have never used a locker in two years. Just make sure you limit your load as much as possible; otherwise, you’ll suffer from relentless back pain… and dynamite muscles, but that’s beside the point.

     The key to high school is to find what you love to do, be it academics, sports, career-oriented or just fun activities. There are a myriad of clubs, teams, and groups for just about anything, so don’t be shy to try them out. Even during the day, there are so many classes offered for different interests that you can go so far with: science, music, politics, and more. There is no time better than freshman year to find out what you do and don’t like.

     I hope these few little tips will help ease any pains and fears you may have circling in your mind, but they certainly cannot guarantee the easiest experience or set you on a certain path. These four years are all about you and discovery. You can do whatever you want, as long as you make sure to keep your head above water, and these few tricks will give you the confidence and ease to do just that. Have fun.