Coming in hot at University Academy is the Class of 2029. The freshmen are making a grand entrance to the new year and their new school, the Upper School.
The class of 60 includes mostly students who attended UA Middle School. There are also five brand new transfers who are attending UA for the first time.
The transition into high school is often a difficult one. New classes, teachers and schedules can make anyone get turned around in unfamiliar halls. However, UA’s own Ms. Mallory Skinner and Dr. Leah Edens softened the blow by organizing Strong Day, an all day event on the first day of school that went over expectations and guidelines, not only for freshmen but for all UA high schoolers.
Along with general introductions and explanations of how things work in the Upper School, Strong Day introduced class wars to the ninth grade students. The freshmen are off to a strong start in class war standings.
“I look forward to winning the class competition thing. So far we are in the lead,” freshman Micah Jolly said.
Jolly was the freshman representative in one of the Strong Day games, gaining his class a win in the football toss segment.
Though some struggle when it comes to the transition from eighth grade to ninth, Jolly said he sees no huge differences between middle and high school besides the increased interactions with older students.
However, he said he is ready for a change of pace when pertaining to the maturity of his fellow classmates.
“We are in freshman year. We should keep it mature and grow up,” Jolly said.
Freshman Maliah Carter seems to have transitioned to high school life effortlessly.
“I thought it was going to be hard on day one,” Carter said. “But, it actually feels like middle school.”
She said she knows it will become more demanding as the year goes along, but she knows she can carry on just fine. Carter has her own simple plan to stay on top of her work and keep it pushing.
Much like Carter, freshman Trenton Brown said he is staying determined with his studies.
“My starting plan for freshman year was to pass [and be on] honor roll both semesters, and it has not changed,” he said.
When coming up with his personal goals to stay on top of his work, Brown said he plans to use his planner to track due dates and assignments, demonstrating his dedication to his academic success.
In the midst of students’ academic goals and plans, the freshmen also have new groups and clubs to try out and new events to participate in.
All in all, UA’s freshmen seem to be making a strong start to the school year. Hopefully, when all is said and done, their entire year will be a positive start to students’ high school experience.
