Rookie Year

 Rookie Year

It’s over. Freshman year. The year that felt endless in the moment—long days, packed schedules, so many “firsts”—and yet here I am, blinking, and it’s already done. I remember walking in that first day, nervous and unsure, clutching my schedule and hoping not to look completely lost. I was nervous to go to a school with literal adults. Everything seemed so big with it’s endless halls. Teachers seemed mean and strict and classrooms, so boring.  Everything was unfamiliar and a little overwhelming, but now those same halls feel smaller, more like mine. The ‘adults’ feel friendlier, more like me. And the teachers, are now the sweetest, the ones I’ll remember the most. 

This year was a blur of late nights, awkward introductions, small victories, and quiet lessons. Some moments were amazing: making new friends, finding something I was actually good at, finally understanding something in class after struggling for so long. Others were harder: feeling left out, getting a bad grade, comparing myself to people who seemed to have it all together. But through it all, I kept going. And that’s something I’m really proud of. I remember almost dropping out of my honors English class into regular English because everyone said the teacher was too hard. The class had a reputation for being awful—too many essays, impossible grading, way too much work. At the time, I was terrified. But now, leaving that class—and that teacher—is the hardest part. Staying was the best decision I could’ve made. It led to new friendships, memories, and so much growth. Even though I failed a lot of assignments and even hated the class at times, I learned so much—not just about English, but about effort, resilience, and what it means to try even when things feel impossible. It became my favorite class.

The biggest takeaway from that? Other people’s opinions don’t define your experiences. You never know how things will turn out until you live them for yourself. What scares you at first might become the thing you’re most grateful for. People don’t know what’s best for you. Only you do.

However, freshman year wasn’t just about school—it was about the whole experience. It was the rush of Friday night football games, cheering with friends even if we didn’t know the rules, just being there, part of something bigger. It was the excitement (and chaos) of hoco—planning outfits, dancing in the moshpit, trying not to trip over our own feet. The chaos of finding our table at lunch, squeezing into crowded hallways between periods, walking in the wrong direction and pretending I meant to. It was joining clubs I wasn’t sure about, showing up to meetings alone at first, and slowly finding my place. It was pep rallies where we didn’t know the cheers but screamed anyway. It was spirit weeks where some of the people dressed up and the others just laughed. It was joining group chats that were more memes than planning, and group projects where two people did everything. It was figuring out how to talk to upperclassmen without panicking. It was friend drama that felt like the end of the world one day and was forgotten the next. It was walking the halls and seeing familiar faces, slowly realizing I'm becoming one of them too. It was those moments after school— laughing in the hallways, seeing the sunset from the football field, staying late for practices and realizing, this is high school. This is it. These are the golden moments.

And then there were the tests. The anxiety. The all-nighters. The trying to balance everything at once and still show up with a smile the next day. It wasn’t perfect—I burned out, procrastinated, cried more than I’d like to admit—but I learned what works for me. I learned how to fail and still move forward. I learned that I’m capable of more than I ever thought.

Looking back, I realize this year changed me in ways I didn’t even notice at first. I’m still me, but more confident, more aware, and more hopeful. I’ve learned that everything really does work out—even if it doesn’t look like it right away. The tough moments pass. The good ones stay with you. And somehow, you grow through it all.

So, here’s to the football games, the awkward dances, the panic before tests, the unexpected friendships, the late-night breakdowns, the tiny wins, the laughter, and everything in between. Freshman year—you were scary, surprising, exhausting, amazing. But you were mine. And I wouldn’t change a thing.

   ~ Aarya Godse

6/2/2025