Adaptations required for first-year high-schoolers

Finley Cahill ’26, Staff Writer
April 9, 2024

Freshman Gavin McGuinness expected high school to be harder than eighth grade. He thought his year would be filled with more homework and harder questions. He had always struggled with science and found that it carried into his Freshman year. With a better mindset and a less nonchalant attitude, this semester he wants to qualify for the New Balance or Nike Nationals, a track competition.

“I’d say cross country and track were pretty fun,” he said. “That was the main thing I did to get involved.”

It’s challenging when students from different schools come together in a melting pot known as Seton Catholic Preparatory. Gavin and two other Freshmen shared their expectations for high school and how they’ve adapted to a more challenging curriculum.

Sierra Cardenas expected high school to be nerve-wracking but still met new friends along the way. She pushes herself to get high grades as she had before, even with her struggle in literature.

“I think it’s a very positive and uplifting community,” she said about Seton. “I joined the Volleyball team, and I’m joining the Softball team.”

Filled with homework and harder classes, Ben Redman’s goals for the second semester of his first year of high school is to form better study habits and to do his homework.

“In Spanish I got a 90% in tests and quizzes but a 40% in homework, and that really messed me up,” he said. “I feel like if I put in effort I could get all A’s.”

High school isn’t easy but by forming consistent study habits and getting involved, it can become more manageable and enjoyable.