By Aniceta Felix and Rachel Felix

We all know how hectic it can be to walk into high school not knowing what to do or what to expect. We took the time to go around and ask upperclassmen and teachers for their advice they’d like to tell our school’s freshmen.

Many freshmen wanted to know how to ensure they get the best grades they can and how to keep up with all the work assigned. Several upperclassmen advised to set goals and not procrastinate on any work. They must motivate themselves to get a great portion of the work done ahead of time rather than waiting to start assignments or projects the day before they’re due.

“Getting the grade isn’t what matters, being able to retain the information and understanding what you’re doing is what matters,” says Annette Garcia, senior. 

“If they slack off, they’ll end up more stressed trying to get their grades back up before the semester ends. It’s better to stay on top of your work so you don’t have to worry about it last minute,” says Jesse Jimenez, sophomore.

Another topic freshmen wanted advice or insight on was joining extracurriculars. Extracurriculars can be fun and helps you get more involved with our school, but some freshmen have hesitated to join any because they are unaware of how to join or might just be nervous to get out of their comfort zones. 

Isaiah Negrete, senior, says joining clubs or sports will help you meet people and be able to build friendships with people with similar interests.

“They can join clubs or sports they know fit with their schedule,” says Victoria Rodriguez, junior.

“They need to know their own schedule. They have to be able to keep their grades up and do all their work while they get involved in extracurriculars,” says Sherlyn Hernandez, sophomore.

Finally, freshman were curious to know how the upperclassmen recommended for them to keep their school lives and social lives balanced.

Most upperclassmen suggested for them to still have days they go out and experience new moments in their lives, but to also not let it interrupt their grades or work ethic.

“I don’t go out much, but when I do I make sure I finish all my work before confirming any plans during the week. During the weekends though, I just enjoy my break from school, but I don’t forget about any homework I get either,” says Brandon Agustin, sophomore.

“What I do is I just go to YAP and finish all my work there and after, I am able to talk or hang out with my friends,” says Gisselle Magaña, senior.