Dear Freshmen, Sincerely Seniors
- thomasrepass
- Sep 5, 2024
- 7 min read
Updated: Oct 9, 2024
This is a collection of letters from our oldest Bruins to our newest Bruins, filled with advice and need-to-know information! Enjoy these pieces from our assorted authors!
Dear Freshmen,
Some mornings it will smell like absolute crap. Feces, dung, whatever you wanna call it; the school will reek of it. Sometimes it comes from a not-so-distant wind of a cow pasture nearby, and sometimes it comes from within, from some hidden inner workings in the very walls conspiring to destroy your nostrils and soul. We’ve been told they fixed our in-school stench, but who knows whether it will make a retching return. Now, let’s move on to one of my favorite topics, our school bathrooms!
Here’s a quick rundown for the pop quiz later: no, we are not gas lighting you about the stalls, there has always been a missing door, you’re just crazy. Yes, we will be using the restrooms to check our phones and no, we will not leave until the Instagram reel has finished. Yes, we will be destroying the mirrors, the soap dispensers, and sinks for absolutely no reason. Even as a senior I question whether our bathroom demolitionists should ever be released into society. Truth be told, the bathroom has always been a harrowing experience for new students, and I don't recommend using it unless absolutely necessary.
As for crowds, grease-filled lunches, and hormones, we’re never short. Blacksburg High School can be the best or worst of your teenage years, and in the end it all depends on you. It all comes down to knowing your limits, when to stop and when to push on. Take only the courses you can handle, as this will help retain your sanity in our educational cesspool. That being said, don’t fear Mr. Baker, he is an inevitability with more skill and mastery than we give him credit for. He’s a real Scottish teddy bear under all those MCQ’s and FRQ’s, try to remember that.
Don’t let yourself drown in the drama. Whether romantic or platonic, relationships will rise and fall in greater numbers in a week than a man thinks of the Roman Empire in a year. Life will move on, and eventually you’ll find the right people for you. Just don’t give up searching.
If I had to sum up my advice for you fledgling freshmen it’d be this: your experiences here at our school will be life-changing. This school may not be Hogwarts but it has plenty of magic to offer, and then some. In a school of almost fourteen hundred teenagers there is never a dull moment if you don’t want there to be. Find time to hate Jay Gatsby and adore Odysseus with Mrs. Duff, travel the CTE hallways and learn about chinchilla care and the intricacies of fine dining, hear about the good old days with Mr. Thomas or Mr. Louis, maybe even send shock waves through the universe with the blinding light of magnesium under a Bunsen burner. The possibilities are as endless as the ticking clock you’ll check five times during an especially long lecture. Make the most of it.
And if you’re ever in need of anything, the Bruin Broadcast will always be here to receive your feedback. After all, you freshmen are our newest readers, and our power will come from your experiences and opinions. Vox Populi to our newest Ursa Majors. Have fun, and remember, avoid the bathrooms.
Sincerely, Seniors
Dear Freshmen,
Yes, everyone is staring at you entering the class late because you couldn’t find the G200 hallway. As you sit down and pull out your chromebook, the teacher touches you on the shoulder. To your dismay, you're in the wrong class! All of this is straight from a nightmare, and extremely unlikely to happen. No doubt, high school can seem overwhelming at first. Entering high school as a freshman is a mixture of stress and excitement. Questions may rush through your head as you enter the front doors. Where will I sit at lunch? What if I can’t find my friends? Will this be like middle school? Luckily, I am providing some important advice to ensure you have a positive freshman year and set you up for a successful high school experience.
Use Bruin Block time wisely
Enrichment time at the end of the school day is a continuity from middle school, so freshmen should be familiar with the concept of a “study hall”. It may seem tempting to spend this time talking with friends, doodling on notes, or even taking a nap to refresh for the last block of the day. While all of these are perfectly allowed (in most situations), I highly recommend this 35 minute period is used wisely. The expectation in high school is that we will come to class every day prepared with knowledge and assignments from the previous class. Since no one wants to do work at home and take away from precious time scrolling through social media and playing video games, you might as well complete classwork during Bruin Block.
Actually have fun
This is a big one. The shift from middle school to high school means a greater degree of course difficulty. Therefore, it may seem like everything is serious, from college-level classes to hours of textbook readings. I am here to tell you… it really is not as serious as you think. You are still a kid, and this is not a 9-5 job. The biggest regret in my high school career is stressing over every little thing. I was so worried about my assignments that I failed to enjoy the journey. There are so many awesome things that will come in the next four years. Many of you will be able to drive, play new sports, and meet new friends. So, my best advice is to please be positive and have fun throughout high school.
Respect your teachers
My final piece of advice is to respect your teachers. No matter how much you might think your teacher hates you, I promise they want nothing more than to see you succeed. They work just as hard, if not harder, than we do as students. They create lesson plans to target each student’s specific needs, while still managing a life outside of school. So, I would advise freshmen to do everything they can to help educators help us. It can be as small as pushing in chairs, paying attention during class, and even wishing them a good day as you leave their classroom. Plus, treating them with respect might help out down the road if you need extra credit or grace for a missing assignment.
Sincerely, Seniors
Dear Freshmen,
Scared or nervous about high school? Listen carefully to this advice curated specifically for you from the most experienced seniors. Here are some key points that will help you have the experience many seniors wish they did.
Firstly, one of the most important things is finding a place to feel at home, somewhere else or something else you can do that makes you really happy outside of school. This will help you to manage the stress and anxiety of homework assignments and school responsibilities. Multiple seniors highlighted the benefits of working out or joining a sport. Moving your body and being active after school and on the weekends is one of the best ways to release stress. Join a sport! It is indeed a little harder to make a team in high school that you do not have experience with, but still try out for JV if you’re at all interested. Many said that some of their best friends are from sports teams, like track, soccer, and cheer. Don’t be afraid to try out even if you don’t know anyone! You will get better, meet new people, and have tons of fun!
Expanding on this, seniors encourage you to join other activities like clubs and extracurriculars. If you start in freshman year, you can explore and decide what clubs you like, which will look GREAT on college applications later on. I know you’re probably thinking that is forever away, but it came up on us quite quickly. We’re not saying to just join everything possible; make sure it’s something you genuinely are interested in. Essentially, don’t be afraid to join things. Whatever teachers, coaches, or students that run the activities will be more than happy to welcome you and make sure you have a good time. Speaking of participation, HAVE SCHOOL SPIRIT! As seniors, most of us always participate in spirit days and activities. Many of the seniors agreed that going about your life being too embarrassed or annoyed to participate in fun things will make you absolutely miserable. Take advantage of the spirit days and coordinate fun outfits with friends. Go to the football games and cheer! Just participating overall will make your time so much more fun.
Us seniors also discussed tips on how to make your school experience the best it can be, especially for classes. Firstly, figure out what time management methods work for you and stick with them consistently. Try to break the procrastination habit and have a routine to get your work done. Maybe it's an hour every day or two hours every other day; whatever works for you. Getting in the habit of studying and working in methods and times that work for you will help you succeed. Secondly, find ways to be comfortable even when you’re at school. This can mean a variety of things. It can be bringing an energy drink so you’re not too tired, listening to music, having things to do when you take breaks (now that you don’t have your phones), wearing comfy clothes, bringing snacks, etc. This will make it easier for you to get out of your bed every day. You will always see a senior doing one of these things; we prioritize comfort and are proud of it.
On a different note, if you are worried about fitting in and are wondering what we have to say about it, pay attention. Many seniors are in agreement that being yourself is genuinely the most important part. Additionally, however, it cannot hurt to be self-aware. Don’t be the kind of person to argue with the teacher for no reason or constantly disrupt the class. Be aware of what you’re saying and doing and if it is making others uncomfortable or upset. All seniors will tell you to be aware of seniority. Don’t stand in the front of the student section at football games. Don’t take advantage of our early release on Fridays. In essence, let us have our moments. Thanks! You will get yours in 3 more years, hang in there.
It’s up to you whether you follow our tips, but regardless, they're right here if you need them. Most importantly, even though it can be tough, try to have fun while you're here. Make the most of your experience. But also, don’t peak in high school. Good luck!
Sincerely, Seniors
First letter by Thomas Repass. Second letter by Miles Ermann. Third letter written by a collective: Audra Kowalik, Olivia Kim, Tea Bissel, Mirra Bowman, and Lilly Sembello.
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