When someone mentions freshman year, plenty of memories rush to the mind, whether they are good or bad. In order to get some insight on those feelings and memories, the Gryphon Gazette asked a few students about their time as freshmen.

The nature of ninth grade at St. George’s is “experiential” and “completely different” from middle school, as junior Caroline Farrell said. It’s a stressful yet exciting year, jam-packed with new teachers, new classes, new students and a completely new atmosphere.

Freshmen year is more academically demanding, but it’s all about trying new things and zeroing in on what you love to do. This newly-gained freedom is also a significant part of the first year of upper school. Although the loss of a recess period is a downside, free periods definitely make up for it, according to senior Allie Harbert.

Part of the ninth grade’s “totally new feel” is, according to ninth-grader Mary Miller Goldberg, “more classes and so much more homework.” However, to help with the heavier workload, there are exceptionally “positive” teachers that “help you through the transition from middle to high school,” Goldberg said.

Despite the many positive aspects of freshmen year, there are still some negative aspects. “Having to work a lot harder on exams and essays” and just simply “being in ninth grade” are just a few, according to Farrell and sophomore Bennett Matson.

However, ninth grade students, jokingly known as “fresh meat,” have no need to fear. Members of the sophomore, junior and senior classes have plenty of advice for the St. George’s class of 2019.

“Just enjoy your freshmen year and understand your classes because they are the common core for the rest of your years in high school,” Harbert said.

Matson advises students to “prepare, prepare, prepare.”

As for what to look forward to after ninth grade, Matson says that it definitely gets better once “you’re not at the bottom of the totem pole anymore.” Farrell added that as high school goes on she learned more about her study and learning habits, which has helped greatly.

All in all, freshmen year is an exciting time and the St. George’s class of 2019 is ready to take the upper school by storm with their “diverse” and “caring” grade, according to Goldberg.

“It’s going to be one heck of a year,” Matson said.