Let’s be real, the first day of freshman year was intimidating. 

A new school that’s significantly larger than your middle school.

Many mature faces, you wonder if they are too old to even be in the same school as you.

And I know for myself, I wish I had approached my first year a little differently in many aspects of school. 

Here’s some advice from fellow students at Cardinal Gibbons, so you can avoid making the same mistakes:

In the Classroom

Finding the balance of school work, athletics, and your social life can be a real struggle in your first week of high school. Figuring out a good routine in the classroom can help make your life ten times easier. Here are a few pieces of advice from students who have found the perfect things to do in the classroom.

“Don’t be afraid to bond with your teachers. They actually really do care about you, and utilize office hours!”  – junior Charlotte Bouchard.

“Balance a lot of things, like you can have a ton going on, but just know how to organize it.” –  junior Connor Licht.

“If you’re gonna play games on your computer, at least be smart about it and don’t make it obvious in front of your teacher.” – senior Quyen Le

“However bad you think freshman bio is, sophomore chemistry is way worse,” senior Claire Carothers 

On the Field

Moving from middle school athletics to high school is intimidating. Having confidence in yourself or even just working hard the whole season can be a big struggle. Here are a few pieces of advice from Gibbons student athletes who have mastered the positive, balanced mindset of high school athletics.

“I wish that as a freshman, I wasn’t as scared and knew that everyone was there to get better and everyone is welcoming on the team.” – junior Natalia Villarreal.

“The amount of commitment that Gibbons sports takes, and that if you’re gonna be on the team, you really have to give it your 100 percent effort.” – junior Emery Campion.

“Be all in, be a good teammate, and always look out for each other.” – senior Catherine O’Connell.

“It’s a lot of fun and you meet a lot of new people, and you meet a lot of new people, it’s how I got introduced to the school.” – sophomore Ella Zarnick.

In the Halls

The time between classes is a precious seven minutes. Students use those few minutes in all kinds of ways – but sometimes, there are things you wish you knew before walking into class, even just five minutes beforehand. And sometimes, a simple smile can go a long way. Here’s some advice from upperclassmen who’ve figured out their own perfect between-classes routine.

“A smile takes you a long way, and being kind to everyone doesn’t cost anything and really counts in the long run,” – sophomore Sydney Delatte.

“I wish I knew there was a bulletin board of all the clubs by the main bathrooms,” – senior Tyler Guy.

“The little small smiles and conversations in the halls with friends matter more than you think” – junior Sophia Escalera.

“I wish I knew I didn’t have to be in my class five minutes before it started, I could wait a little bit” – senior Nathan Johnston.

In the Arts

The art wing at Gibbons can get pretty overwhelming, with all that’s going on. Band, drumline, choir, orchestra, and all the plays and musicals. Here are some quotes from a few well-rounded art students who have found their way around the art wing and want to help lead you down the right path.

“With fine arts, just throw yourself into it, give it your all, and you will succeed.” – senior Amelie Flagler.

“Everyone is there to help you, and sometimes it’s ok to totally mess up and think you’re not the best because you are not going to be the best at everything. But everyone’s there to have a community with you and help you on your journey.”  – senior Isabel Collins.

“Getting into a show doesn’t mean you get to stop working hard; always work hard.” – sophomore Livi Swain.

“Come in with a lot of dedication, be really present with those interactions you have and with your classmates because you will form such a big family in the art wing and will appreciate it so much” – senior Josh Njapa.

Spiritual Life/Extracurriculars

Keeping up with your relationship with God can be really hard in high school with the many distractions surrounding you. Distractions can steer you away from not only God but also the desire to get involved in the school. Here are a few pieces of advice concerning these topics.

“Seek God’s approval, not the world’s.”  – Senior Greyson Murphy.

“Don’t be afraid to get involved in extracurricular activities; you are always welcome.” – Senior Avery Hale.

“Loving Jesus isn’t embarrassing, it’s really cool!” – senior Jenny Boulas.

“Use your flex time wisely and go to Spiritual Life events!” – senior Bryce Fitzsimmons.