For freshmen, the first year of high school can be scary, even imitating.

They will experience things like exams, harder classes, and even the new idea to them of a GPA.

In this story, you will meet five freshmen who share their experiences of their first year of high school.

Alanah Palasty

How has this year been for you and has it been anything like what you expected?

For freshman Alanah Palasty high school isn’t like anything like she expected.

“Freshman year has definitely been tough, and it is nothing like what middle school was,” Palasty said. “I expected all the homework I’ve been given, but not for it to be as challenging as it really is.”

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced this year? 

“Keeping my grades up would be the first challenge,” Palasty said. “The nine-absence rule would be the hardest thing, though.”

What are some goals or expectations for the rest of high school? 

“I plan to study more and keep my grades up,” Palasty said. ” I would like to meet new people and become more social going forward.”

Bex Cushman

How has this year been for you and has it been anything like what you expected?

For freshman Bex Cushman, this year has been a good kind of different.

“My freshman year has been harder than expected with school work,” Cushman said. “It has been easier to make new friends. Everyone here is accepting and extremely inviting.”

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced this year? 

“My biggest challenge was myself and actually turning in all my assignments,” Cushman said. “I had to lift myself up to get the tasks done.”

What are some goals or expectations for the rest of high school? 

“I want to work harder to get better grades, along with studying a lot more,”Cushman said. “I want to be easier on myself as well, because I can do anything I put my mind to.”

Matthew Bennett Jr.

How has this year been for you and has it been anything like what you expected?

For Freshman Matthew Bennett Jr., this year has allowed him to make new friends.

“(This year) has been a lot different for me because I  didn’t think that people way older than me would want to hang or be my friend,” Bennett said.

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced this year? 

“Being on time to each class because all my classes are on different sides of the buildings, so I have to rush to be there on time,” Bennett said.

What are some goals or expectations for the rest of high school? 

“(I want to) try to keep up the good work I’m doing now so I can be better in the future,” Bennett said. ” I’ll get through it with the help of my family and friends.”

Diontae Scott

How has this year been for you and has it been anything like what you expected?

For freshman Diontae Scott, this year has been predictable.

“Freshman year has been what I expected because I have to get good grades and pass all my classes,” Scott said.

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced this year?

“I have been working really hard to do all my homework and to keep my grades up,” Scott said. “I’m constantly under pressure.”

What are some goals or expectations for the rest of high school?

“I just want to keep plugging along with all my classes and keep up the hard work throughout high school,” Scott said.

Matt Ostrander

How has this year been for you and has it been anything like what you expected? 

“(Freshman year) was nothing like I expected,” Ostrander said. ” It’s a lot more stressful than I thought.”

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced this year?

“Sometimes it would have to be staying awake and actually comprehending what the teacher is saying,” Ostrander said.

What are some goals or expectations for the rest of high school?

“I’d like to be able to join men’s choir and graduate on time with my class,” Ostrander said.