Whether you’re a freshman still finding your way around or a senior counting down the days to graduation, every student rides the wave of these four unforgettable phases of their high school years. Freshman Fever comes with excitement and uncertainty, Sophomore Slump is where motivation starts to fade away, and Junior Jam is the year that pushes students to their limits. Senioritis, the most common of the phenomena, is the final stretch, where the finish line is in sight, but the energy to reach it is running low. Each of these seasons comes with its challenges, lessons, and triumphs that impact a student’s high school experience in ways they wouldn’t expect.
Freshman year is all about the firsts: first high school classes, first school dances, first time feeling completely lost in a large crowd of other freshmen and upperclassmen. It’s the year of excitement, confusion, and learning the ropes.
“I want to pass everything with at least an A,” said Travis Stoddard, a freshman still adjusting to the demands of high school. Like many ninth graders, he started strong, determined to set a solid foundation by maintaining his grades, but the transition wasn’t easy. “The education system in my old school was not the best… I wasn’t really prepared,” he admitted. “It took a while to get used to, like a month or so.”
The excitement of a new beginning keeps students moving forward, even when the weight of new responsibilities starts settling in. Ava Garcia, another freshman at Galileo, balances school with sports and has already learned that time management is key. “Normally, I’ll just do schoolwork after practice,” she said. “Most days, I have time to study… Sometimes I just have to make it.” The first semester is all about figuring things out. By the time second semester comes around, freshmen start to get the hang of things through the realization that they have three more years of hard work ahead. “I only know it gets worse from here,” Travis joked.
By sophomore year, the excitement starts to disappear. The adrenaline of being new is gone, but the finish line is still far away. Sophomore year is the year of drifting away from goals, feeling exhausted, and slipping grasp of motivation.
“Start studying now and not later,” Ava advised when reflecting on what she wishes she had done differently. Sophomore year is when students either build strong study habits or slip into procrastination. Without the pressure of being a junior or the excitement of being a senior, it’s easy to let things slide.
But not all lessons come from textbooks. Sophomore year is also about discovering what really matters and figuring out what you want and who you truly are. “Have fun and do not get involved in anything you don’t like,” Ava added. With the pressure to join clubs, sports, and extracurriculars, many students find themselves overcommitted. By the time second semester arrives, sophomores begin to realize that grades are important, but so is enjoying their high school experience.
Junior year is the mountain, the hardest year, the year that truly tests a student’s endurance. It’s the year of SATs, AP classes and exams, and the pressures of college, where students are expected to act like adults while juggling with their high school life.
“Be prepared for a lot more work and responsibilities,” warned Adrien Carignan, a junior balancing school, Esports, and a job. Unlike underclassmen, juniors don’t have the luxury of easing into their responsibilities. “I try to put my schoolwork first, so most of my scheduling is based around what time I can do my schoolwork and turn it in on time,” Adrien explained.
Burnout is real, and motivation isn’t always there when you need it. Some days, students are fueled by their goals, and on others, their exhaustion defeats them. “It sounds a bit weird, but memories [motivate me],” Adrien said. “I reflect on my life and see how far I’ve already come…I can’t allow myself to give up now.”
By second semester, junior year feels like a never-ending cycle of deadlines. Every assignment, every late night, and every stressful exam adds to the pressure. “It may seem like too much in the moment,” Adrien admitted, “but if you push through, you’ll be fine.”
Senior year is the final countdown. The hardest work is behind them, and the only thing left to do is to endure. The energy that once fueled all-nighters and last-minute study sessions begins to fade and is replaced by the overwhelming urge to just be done with it all.
The thing that many students, including myself, are looking forward to is the end. “The end of my high school career and the beginning of my adulthood and college career” is the ultimate light at the end of the tunnel for junior Adrien Carignan.
But underneath the exhaustion and thoughts of giving up, there is nostalgia. Every moment feels like the last: the last school dance, the last powderpuff game, the last track meet, the last exam, and the last time walking these halls. Some seniors check out early, skip classes, and even daydream about the future. Others hold onto every high school moment they’ve had, wishing they’d known what they know now, saying goodbye to a place that, despite the bad experiences, shaped who they are.
Each year in high school brings something new—whether it’s the excitement of a fresh start, the struggle to stay motivated, the pressure to succeed, or the bittersweet feeling of moving forward. The cycle repeats itself with every incoming class, but for each student, it’s a subjective and personal journey. No matter how long the seasons of high school may feel, they all pass faster than you may realize, leaving students to look back on all their memories and wonder how it all went by so quickly.
