The 2023-24 school year has just begun, with new freshmen arriving. Students are optimistic for one of the biggest milestones of their lives. Students not only have endeavored to adjust to the new building but are also calibrating their new form of independence. Middle school was a little simple, but now freshmen will spend their months learning how to conquer the school year.

With all the freshmen in a new building, there are always a couple of things to learn. Freshman students may also still have a middle school mindset and need to comprehend that they’re now in high school. “It’s refreshing to have a new group of kids, so dealing with the kids is always invigorating. It’s expected that they may misbehave because they don’t know the rules and they think it’ll still be like middle school, and it’s stricter rules over here. Once they have the class meetings, it’s a lot easier,” said the school’s security, Kenyetta Grigsby. 

Students arrived at school on August 16th, roughly around 7:50 a.m. Freshmen who missed orientation would have to adapt to their surroundings, but even the ones who did attend still struggled to find their classes in a new, much bigger school. “I think I’m adjusting well. I found all my classes on the first week, I was lost on the first day, though. I was nervous on the first day and I was scared when I found out we had to go to a different building for Spanish,” said Deseane Davis.

Students without a friend to accompany them would have to fend for themselves. “It was embarrassing walking into the school, and I still get lost,” said Cesia Gonzalez. Teachers were around to instruct students where to find their classes, but freshmen would still have to find their room numbers and class locations. A week into school, Osbourn would hold an assembly to introduce freshmen to the school’s rules and expectations. But the school isn’t the only one with expectations. “I expect it to be a good year, not like how people talk about it,” said Ahkylis Turay Possible. 

As their high school year begins, freshmen have also realized the extreme changes they’ll undergo. “It’s important to choose which friends you drop and which friends you keep because not all of them are real friends. Some friends aren’t going to stay your friends forever, so you have to be cautious,” said Turay Possible. Friendships aren’t the only thing new to freshmen. As they get older, there is new independence to engage with. “I like to walk around Manassas a lot as a new freedom because my mom works at Baldwin, so it’s something new I can do. I can hang out in the soccer field and do my conditioning and stuff, and just mainly hang out with my friends, because I get to walk around,” said Jazmine Esparza.

Now, school has been in session for almost two months. With school events, spirit weeks, rallies, and sports coming up; students are very excited. Besides school spirit, freshmen are looking forward to their school year. “School has been good so far, the first day of school, I was really lost and I couldn’t find my way. It was really difficult to find my classes, especially the one outside. Compared to now, it’s easier and I’ve gotten used to the school. I feel like I’ve adjusted from the first day of school to now,” said Kemilly Muniz Dasilva.

Starting high school raises concerns and plans for the future. As the year progresses, students have to start thinking about their career choices and what they want to do in life. “I do wonder how my future will go because I want to know what I’ll do when I’m older. I see myself being happy and rich,” said Amaya Brooks. Freshmen are apprehensive about the years to come, as they move further in school. “I definitely think I’ll succeed here, I don’t think there’s any reason I wouldn’t. I do great grade-wise and I think that even if I  do badly here, the teachers won’t let me fail. I do worry about my future, but mostly what college I’ll go to, not necessarily if I’ll do bad because I know chances are I am going to college.” said Abigail Marah.

Not only are there expectations for the ongoing grade levels, but also life after graduation. “I’m an intellectual individual. I expect to have only two classes, so I can excel and show my future bloodlines how it’s supposed to be. I always wonder how my future will go, whether it be good or bad, it depends on my decisions on what I do now. I see my future being wealthy, brilliant, and excellent.” said Cameron Jackson. 

Most freshmen have positive attitudes toward their current high school experience and their expectations of their future. High school is a buoyant experience, filled with new liberation, friends, and discovery. OHS welcomed the freshmen with open arms, and they were excited for their experience.