As a freshman last year, I remember walking into the high school for orientation and being scared to death. The school was so big, there were so many people, and so much information and advice was thrown at me. It was all so confusing and scary. I had no idea where my classes were, and I had never even seen or met the teachers before. I know other freshmen who felt like this, too. Everyone goes through it, even the big bad seniors. When I got overwhelmed, I went to the seniors I knew and asked for advice. Their advice helped me not be as worried and scared for the year ahead. I know not every incoming freshman knows seniors, but I also know that every freshman is worried. To help them out a little, I asked some seniors to give some advice to help these freshmen be less stressed. 

“Get involved! School is much more memorable when you are part of the fun!” – Rodney Yakley

“High School is all about making good memories, making new friends, and getting an education. This is your time to join clubs or something you haven’t been a part of. Do not be scared to go out of your comfort zone and exceed expectations. Be true to yourself and your morals. Make goals for yourself, but most importantly, have fun!” – Carley Noretto

“Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Everyone has been in your shoes before, and we understand how scary and overwhelming it can be.” – Trevor Clark

“My advice for incoming freshmen is to try not to get too overwhelmed. It may seem a lot at first, but after the first week and you have your schedule remembered, you’ll soon either realize you know and have friends in your classes, or you will make new ones! All the staff at DHS are very welcoming to freshmen and ensure that freshmen have what they need to be successful during their first year at the high school. Join extracurricular activities such as band, choir, or orchestra! Join a new sport! All the teams are very welcoming and inviting to the freshman who shows their interest in trying something new. It’s your year to figure out what you like and don’t like, and if you don’t like an activity, you can always pick a different one next year. Once you get out there, it will be less scary than it seems. I was the same way my freshman year. Have a great first year!” – Kaydence Oboczky

“My advice for incoming freshmen is to have fun and enjoy every day because it goes so fast.” – Keara Dickey

“Advice that I would give to incoming freshmen is to take school seriously and not mess around your first year. You will have many opportunities throughout your high school career, but you can never go back and correct the mistakes you made your first year.” – Max Bambeck

I think that those pieces of advice would have been very helpful going into my freshman year. If there is anything you should get out of those statements, it’s that asking others for help is okay, you should try new things, and you will get the hang of it. Yes, starting is scary, and it may take you a while to understand and get used to such a big change, but everyone is here to help you and wants you to enjoy your time here at DHS. If you struggle with making friends, join a sport or a club because everyone is very welcoming. There is something for everyone here, and you will figure out what you like and are interested in. You will determine where your classes are and your teachers will get to know you. After a couple of weeks, you will get the hang of it. Everything will be okay, and you will fit in here at DHS. You’ve got this!