Dear Freshman,
Although the upperclassmen may ignore and pretend not to like the entirety of the Class of 2019, in reality, this is only because they once were you. Being a freshman is like being a spider, stepped on by everyone and to be avoided. No one wants to remember these dark times. Since the transition from Bear Cub to Grizzly can be rough, here’s some advice from Ashland High’s seasoned senior class.

Even though freshman year is exponentially better than middle school, getting in the groove of things can be challenging. Brielle Preskenis, 2014-15 ASB Co-President, offers a small piece of advice to the freshman she may never meet, “Don’t confine yourself to one group of people. Make friends and have fun. High school goes by fast, enjoy it.” Her Co-President, Jackson Richmond expands on this to say “Don’t overlook all the tiny things that will happen. There are a lot of things I wished I had been more appreciative of. It’s important because you won’t get it back.”

While these seniors offer serious advice, Max Atteberry says “Follow me on Twitter, @MaxAtteberry,” on a more lighthearted note. This is perfect for those long nights of procrastination when looking for just one more thing to do before writing that English 9 essay.

Many members of the class of 2015 warn of the dangers of high school. With the new found freedoms comes many misconceptions and worries. Among these is the myths that going to class isn’t necessary, it’ll be just as easy as middle school, hard work isn’t really needed and online classes will make everything a breeze. The class of 2015 has found out, some of them the hard way, that this isn’t at all true. Alli Haynes says “go to class,” and Alina Foster adds “don’t slack off.” “Online classes are NOT easier,” according to Gillian Tracy. While online classes can be a great option, they’re often expensive and, as Tracy attests, difficult.

Some more advice –

“Well, academically, I would advise freshmen to not be afraid of finals; to take all the required classes early; to plan to take the SAT and ACT in their junior year instead of their senior year; to take hard courses in the subjects they excel in; to appreciate writing assignments because they help A LOT later on; and to realize that their education is in their own hands and that they have the power to work hard and succeed. Socially, I would advise freshmen to TRY NEW THINGS! That sounds cliche, but I wish I had become involved in more clubs throughout my high school career and tried out for more things like the talent show. I also would encourage them to step outside their friend group and be open to meeting new people.”

Katy Barnard

“Shoot for the moon, even if you miss you’ll hit the stars. And have fun.”

Gabe Lehrburger

“Never let up, just keep pushing. High school really does go by as fast as everyone says it does, don’t let it pass you by.”

Georgia Williams

“Find what you love and go all in.”

Charis Roberts

“Really pay close attention to your grades and don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone!”

Maya Timmons

“Don’t stress the little things.”

Ben Poneta

“Don’t screw up and plan ahead. Teachers are willing to work with you, let them.”

Scotty Gordon

“Everything is easier than it seems. Get enough sleep. Take first and fifth outs. Find something you’re good at and stick with it. Learn to fly.”

Ben Smith

“Don’t go to Morse Street.”

Anna Lee Fremming

“Act your age”

Fox McDowell

“Work hard now and relax later.”

Keenan Gregory

“Take a PE credit your freshman year.”

Hannah Gibbs

“You won’t have the same motivation later on, work now.”

Willow Mykelti

“Participate in sports/wrestling/club activities”

Laurel Watson

“Don’t be rude to teachers. Be honest”

Danny Newton

“Get in good with Callie in the attendance office.”

Shyann Munro

“Get on the teacher’s good side and stay there.”

Louis Snowden

“It’s more about how teachers feel about you than the quality of your work.”

Anonymous

“It’s easy now, enjoy it while it lasts.”

Dylan McMorgan

Even though these seniors won’t be here next year to guide the freshmen through their first year as a Grizzly, their advice stands strong. Overall, the general consensus is that high school really isn’t that bad but it does go fast. It can be fun if you let it be. As one final piece of advice, since Ms. French will be graduating with the Class of 2015, she offers the following advice, “Pay attention, it is the most important thing.”