Most people can remember their first day of high school and the nerves that accompanied it. The stress of navigating your schedule and the seemingly labyrinthian hallways confuse everybody when they first arrive at Apex. Not to mention having to meet the people and teachers in your new classes. With only about a month left of school, seniors will soon be graduating, and the rising freshmen will be making their way to Apex. There are a few things that freshmen should know before their first day here. 

First and foremost, navigating the hallways becomes a lot easier once the layout is familiar to you. The school is laid out in a perfect square, with the room numbers increasing as you go. The hallways are marked as the 100s, 200s, 300s, and 400s. The first digit of a room number corresponds with what floor it is on, the second is what hallway it is, and the last two are the individual rooms in that hallway. Each hallway is marked by a certain color: green, blue, yellow or white. Once you get the hang of that, finding your classes becomes a lot easier. 

One crucial thing freshmen must remember is getting organized and staying on top of your schoolwork. Maksim Sostaric, a current freshman at Apex, preaches the importance of developing good study habits since it is something that he has struggled with in the past. It is important to get into good habits in the beginning of high school so that you can keep them when your schoolwork gets more difficult and demanding. Junior year is especially hectic, so it is crucial to develop good habits before then. Make lists of all your assignments and keep track of when they are due, complete all your homework on time, and don’t be afraid to ask your teacher or peers for help when you need it. They will ensure that you get the help you need so that you can succeed, and Maksim can say that consulting his teachers and coaches helped him overcome the challenges he initially faced in high school.

The social aspect of high school is often difficult to navigate. It is best to make friends with people that seem genuine and have interests that align with yours. Harry Cast, a current senior, says that he was able to branch out in his junior year and meet friends after stepping out of his comfort zone. The best way to do that is going to sports games or other school activities with friends. It is always a good idea to befriend the people in your class. This is especially useful since they can provide help where you need it and they can keep you accountable, something that Maksim has found helpful.

High school is full of fun experiences as well as challenging work. The most important thing is to find a balance between the two and know that high school sets you up for the future, so make smart choices while you’re here. Don’t take yourself too seriously and know that your grades don’t define you. Good luck to all the rising freshmen!