Freshman Frenzy by Jordan

Freshman Frenzy by Jordan - November 2014 Scholarship Essay

Freshman year is a very difficult time in every young students' life. Freshman are expected to jump right into the High School routine, but that is nearly impossible. Walking down the crowded halls full of upperclassmen can be terrifying if you allow it to be. My advice for any freshman is to act like you know what you're doing.

My freshman year I was just a little bit terrified. I had nightmares about being thrown into lockers and trashcans by the seniors. I daydreamed about getting in trouble for falling asleep in class. I imagined food fights in the lunch room, and bullies stealing my lunch money every time I closed my eyes. I was terrified, to say the least. On the first day of freshman year I tried to pretend that I was too sick to go to school, but my mom knew I was only trying to get out of a scary situation. That morning she gave me the best piece of advice that I've ever listened too. She said "Dress up, but don't dress up to much. Put a smile on your face, but don't be fake. If you don't know where you're going, ask someone". The next piece of advice my mom gave me knocked me off my feet. She leaned in really close and said "When I was scared of doing something new your mema always told me 'Act like you know what you're doing. Almost a fourth of the people around you are doing the exact same thing', and I have used that in every step of my life since then". I realized that she was right. If you act like a freshman you are more likely to be picked on by the upperclassmen. If you act like you know what's going on they won't be able to tell the difference between you and someone in their own grade that they haven't met yet.

Look around you as you walk through the halls on your first day of freshman year. You are not the only one worried about how the upperclassmen will see you. Your friends are more than likely scared of the same thing. Make a pact with your friends to own the school. Freshman year will be the best year of high school; I promise. Enjoy it while you can, and don't forget to relax and smile.