Importance Of Freshman Year In High School

Students transitioning from middle school to high school are often eager for all of the new experiences that come along with high school; better lunches, more freedom, and new friends. However, not all students are aware of the extreme importance of freshman year in high school on their academic careers and why it is crucial to stay focused and do well.

While most of the classes taken freshman year are basic and perhaps even not much more challenging than classes in 8th grade, they are what will establish a student in the eyes of teachers. Doing homework, taking notes and getting good grades will put the student in a better standing, which will then lead teachers to recommend them for honors and AP classes. These are the classes which will truly challenge students, allowing them to develop a more complex and broad understanding, as well as allow them to impress admission officers once it is time to apply for college.

It is also during freshman year that a student’s grade point average, or GPA is first affected.  When entering high school, every student begins with a clean slate, not affected directly by their grades in middle school. After the first term however, the grades received are factored in, giving the student an average of their grades, which also factors in the difficulty of courses taken. A high GPA your freshman year will allow for grades in harder classes in the next years to not hurt academic standing as much, although it is important to do as well as possible all four years.

High school also opens up a wide range of connections to be made, both with faculty members and fellow students. By getting to know teachers, and admin your freshman year, a very strong bond will have time to form, so that by the time college applications arrive, you will have formed friendships and memories but will also have a large selection of faculty to ask for recommendations.

Being involved is an important part of high school, and there is no better time to start than freshman year. Sports teams, clubs, and volunteer work all help build character and develop friendships, while also boosting your resume. Some volunteer organizations that are always in search of volunteers include the American Red Cross, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and any emergency food programs in your local area.

Freshman year may seem far from senior year, but before you know it will be have passed. Therefore, it is crucial to keep your ‘eye on the prize” from the beginning, whatever that prize may be.

Amanda De Moraes

Boston Tutoring Services