Artwork and story by Phoenix Comstock
Pulse Writer
High school marks the transition to the real world, and the class of 2029 is taking its first steps. Entering high school is a stressful yet exciting experience for many.
An important part of going into high school is realizing everyone seems to come from a different school. Many students arrive from Lakeview, Lance, Brompton, Mahone, and many other places. Within a shift of locations, rules are sworn to change. A hot topic within even the elder classes of Indian Trail has hot debates on the works of the phone ban. “In middle school, I had a lot of teachers who were okay with us on our phones. In high school, a lot of them are kind of like, no, not at all. You can’t even have it in your pocket,” the incoming freshman, Macy, complains. Although some have enjoyed their change in environment, ex-Brompton student Sophia admits, “it’s really nice not having uniforms.”
Rules and regulations aren’t the only changes here. Outside of just rules, social norms between middle school and high school have a dramatic switch. “The [social structure] has been better for the first week of school. A lot nicer people in this Academy than what I’m used to in a normal school environment,” says Ian Butler, a communications freshman.
Yet, social pressure during the transition, especially in the teenage years, carries a high risk of added stress. According to The National Library of Medicine, “Adolescents also spend a substantial part of their waking hours in schools, and thus the relationships formed within school walls with both educators and other students matter for development.” So far, many students have already complimented the source of community ITA has given them, despite the immense size of the building.
Although many students have enjoyed their first few weeks, it doesn’t mean that some people have not struggled with the transition. Mental health rates among high schoolers are statistically high, and any change is doomed to be nerve-racking for some. Senior Valarie Madsen says, “There will always be someone with the same hobbies, struggles, and personality as you, and all you have to do is take that leap of faith into forming your own friends and groups.”
Freshman year seems jarring to many being the youngest group in school but, things are not as serious as it appears. Every person will find their wings to soar under Indian Trail’s roof. There are also so many opportunities to find groups, like clubs, offered by the school. Going off with things they might be interested in or communities they may be a part of is an excellent way to find their way through the school. The class of 2029 is here to stay within the nest, and all Indian Trail students and staff hope they get comfortable fast!