Exploring the Experiences and Expectations of the Class of 2028

We all remember the feeling of leaving middle school and starting high school. The change meant a fresh start with a new school, new people, a new system, spirit-filled pep rallies, football games, homecoming, and prom. But we also had fears about having no friends in class, the need to wake up earlier than usual to catch the bus, anxiety about how to get to class, and concerns about navigating the new environment. There is always a mix of emotions coming into high school, and that feeling remains the same for the class of 2028, our newest freshman! 

I spoke with several students and discovered they felt the transition had been smooth. Some former Oakland Mills Middle School students like Rozelyn Sarfo were “already familiar with the layout of the school” and had frequent interactions with the OM, causing them to have an easier transition. Even students from other middle schools, such as Jonathan McCoy mentioned, “I didn’t have any problems with my transition…” and viewed it as a significant step in their life. Others were enthusiastic about coming here for a fresh start due to their tough middle school experience. Naomi Osborne said she met “a bunch of new people” and had “a bunch of new experiences…” so far, expressing relief and hope for a better high school experience. Well done, OM!

The freshmen mentioned a lot of differences between middle and high school, such as high school feeling much bigger due to the diverse student population, Jaden Bernard explained. Prince Darko also mentioned differences in academics, “When I was in middle school…school came so easy to me like I wasn’t even trying. I didn’t study for tests. I just got good grades. Coming to high school, classes are so difficult because I’m in GT classes, so I have to lock in, and now I have to put in work, especially after my practice.” But ultimately we know these differences enhance the educational journey and help to better prepare students for the future, so it is bound to be a little difficult. Nevertheless, the transition is always hard.

One thing that excited many of the freshmen was the numerous extracurricular activities offered in high school. Prince Darko remarked, “Education can be boring sometimes, and having something outside of education can be refreshing.” The freshmen also expressed their excitement for pep rallies, football games, and getting ready for functions such as homecoming. Another perk of high school they noted was the freedom they had. However, the independence given to students is to be used wisely.

Lastly, I asked the students if they had misconceptions about high school. Some of them did. For instance, Naomi mentioned that a relative had told her she “might get jumped on the first day of school,” and some students thought they “would get shoved in a locker.” Fortunately, high school isn’t like a Disney movie, and those misconceptions were proven untrue. However, the only advantage middle school had was recess.

Overall, the Class of 2028 expressed excitement about the change, and I hope they will have a wonderful time here and shape our school positively! Welcome hOMe!