The True Diary of Freshman Year

Written by: Kanita Tariq 

I’ll be honest- freshman year was hard. 

Whether it was the boatload of assignments I put off until the last possible minute, or the uncertainty of who I could or couldn’t trust, my freshman year was a big learning experience for the next three years of high school. 

I was excited about starting high school. Finally- I was a grown-up. I felt independent, smarter, and a whole lot cooler. My whole life, I’d watch high schoolers on T.V. looking so cool as they smoothly navigated their way through, with an army of friends and supporters behind them. 

This was not my reality. In the real world, I had to deal with deadlines, quarterlies, as well as the struggle of maintaining a social life in between. I was tossed into the realm of Google and its helpful resources, along with a string of technical difficulties that often outweighed the good. I attempted to push away the horrific reminders of final exams, which is not something I can forget about anymore. 

I thought I could steer clear of the drama that came along with the transition of high school. As frivolous as my issues seemed, they meant the entire world to me. People changed. I changed. With a hectic end to the year, I found myself saying goodbye to some old friends. That doesn’t mean anyone’s a villain- it just means that some relationships aren’t meant to make it past middle school. 

It wasn’t all as gloomy as I’m making it seem. I solidified some old friendships, made new ones, and maintained good grades (for now… fourth marking period isn’t over yet!). I met some teachers that changed my life forever. 

The biggest takeaway was that I learned. Not just about the makeup of an organism or Napoleon’s rise to power, but about how to treat people, how to make a difference in the world, and how to be the best person I could ever possibly be. So while I cringe at the thought of setting my alarm for 5:30 A.M. every morning for another three years, or the big, bad final exams I have to face in just a few weeks, I can rest with the thought that I can walk away with a better heart and a better mind.