Movies tell us that the first day of freshman year involves a cinematic slow-motion walk down the crowded hallways and find the stereotypical ‘clique’ that you usually find within the beginning of lunchtime. In reality, your first day is mostly a confusing schedule, “Who am I?” assignments, online syllables, and long lunch lines with little to no time to eat what’s served. But now, the ‘fresh meat’ that once pondered and stumbled in the halls aren’t so novel anymore.
As our freshman grizzlies transition into the second-semester, they no longer have to reach for their schedule or login papers every three to five minutes.
We now move on from the question, “Who can I sit with?” to having a designated lunch spot that will soon feel nostalgic. Freshman grizzlies now have to take initiative and make things count now that the “honeymoon phase” eases over.
As the 2025-2026 school year comes to an end, seniors take a step further into the future, leaving behind a building full of memories over the four-year course of being a Grizzly: but not the education and knowledge that was taught. The question is, as the last semester of senior year is coming to the end, what have you learned? What are you taking with you out of high school? And how does it feel to be so close, yet so far from freedom?
Time is ticking and we are now three months away from hot weather, beach trips, mall hangouts, small gatherings, tanning, and sun burns. Meaning that soon, we are stress free and careless from the cell that contains us, but what about the highlights of our accomplishments and progress throughout the school year?
Freshman Leo Sander stated, “Honestly, I think my classes are easier than the ones I had in middle school, and I feel like I have way more freedom than I thought I would.”
There is definitely a huge shift transitioning from high school to middle school, especially with maturity and new privileges students were not previously aware of.
Sanders also said, “I would like to say this year taught me how to stay on top of things. I had a problem with keeping track of my assignments in middle school, but I feel like Los Osos has taught me to stay on track and stay focused with my assignments.”
Through adolescence we are taught not only in society, but in school that work and obstacles won’t finish themselves and that’s when “responsibility” is introduced. Responsibility is a building block throughout life, especially in adulthood that seems to progress starting with elementary, middle school, and lastly high school.
Throughout your four years you notice you start hearing the word more and begin to take initiative of your surroundings as this determines what role you play in society.
Freshman Kyleigh Gear, stated, “I would say the first day of school I was a lot more closed off and shy mainly because I was in a new environment where I was surrounded by a lot of new people. Now I am more outgoing and more confident walking around campus because I am more familiar with where classes are.”
As Kyleigh stated, being in a new environment can be pressuring for some, especially when dropped in a new beginning and a timeline of new experience and surprises for each day of the year.
Kyleigh also said, “A goal that I set for myself was to always take extra time to get all my work done and do it right. I tend to procrastinate a lot, and because of that my grades drop over easy points that probably would’ve taken me 5 minutes. By making sure I do this whether I am at home, school, or a friend’s house it has impacted my grades and understanding of the material given a lot.”
After sitting for multiple periods for a period of eight hours, the feeling of wanting to flop onto your bed, sink to your mattress, and bundle up into your comforter is understandable, but laziness isn’t. Determination and a fixed mindset can set a stress free schedule instead of drowning in last minute past assignments because of the four words,” I’ll do it later”.
“It feels so great being able to see how far I’ve come as a student and as a person. It’s honestly unreal how short high school can feel, but I am excited to see what God has in store for me,”stated Senior Delila Aguilar.
There isn’t much of a rush for the seniors to graduate this year, and the start of the second semester only intensifies the nostalgia that the seniors are feeling, after all, real life starts after graduation.
High school is feeling short for the seniors, but also fulfilling. You wouldn’t want to stay for another year, but you’re going to miss all the experiences you got to have.
“Don’t hold yourself back from trying something new”, said Senior Brooke Stanton, which is something all freshmen, sophomores, and juniors should take into consideration.
Going to homecoming and prom are the most exciting parts of being a high schooler, and that’s exactly what you need to take advantage of because those opportunities will be over before you know it. It’s something bittersweet, but it’s an amazing piece of advice that all the lower grades should follow.
After four years of high school, one of the biggest realizations you need to make is that you are more than your grades. Senior Samantha Rendon stated, “Be kind to yourself, grades or test scores don’t define you and enjoy your high school years doing activities with friends!”
Things like going to rallies and football games are the true memories you bring with yourself years after high school ends, not your transcript, and realizing that is one of the most important things you can do before second semester as a senior ends.
As our freshmen settle in this semester full of courses ahead and plenty of time to gather a new school spirit attitude, we now trade places with the ones who were once standing in our shoes. While freshmen settle in, the seniors are doing the opposite, they are getting ready to navigate the new world or adulthood. Whether that is college, trade school, or straight into working, even though the seniors are leaving for good, hopefully their legacy will continue in order for freshmen to follow their footsteps and feel even more fulfilled when the time for their graduation comes!