Dear Class of 2029,
Welcome to High School. It can be a big transition. Luckily, this year’s seniors are here to give you their advice:
To start, Countless seniors confessed that they wished that they had pushed themselves harder academically during their freshman year. Greta Sterner ‘26 says, “Don’t slack off freshman year because it will nerf your GPA.” Furthermore, Sam Milverstedt, ‘26, confessed that he “thought freshman year and sophomore year didn’t matter — but then when college applications come around, your GPA from [those years] does matter because it adds up.”
Even though a lot of colleges don’t look at your freshman year grades, GPA is the grade point average for all four years combined. This means that your grades from freshman year do affect you because they contribute to the average. Many upperclassmen are now playing catch-up, trying to recover from lackluster performances as freshmen.
Roger Shen, ‘26, added to this saying, “If I could go back in time, I’d tell myself to work harder.” The consensus was that locking in early will lead to positive results in the long run. In other words, don’t dig yourself into a hole freshman year.
In terms of social advice, seniors had many different ideas. Joaquin McKee, ‘26, laments, “I regret not going to more games and meeting people through that.” Even if you don’t enjoy sports, there is still something special about the gameday atmosphere and cheering for your school. Games are also a cool opportunity to meet fellow fans.”
On the other hand, Simon James, ‘26, urges freshmen to “join a poker club to make bread.” Simon has found that, despite frequently losing his money, poker has been a catalyst for social gathering and friendship.
Toby Wong, ‘26, and his friends caution, “Don’t walk slowly in the hallways. Boulder High is a busy place, and if people walk slowly, it’s a lot worse.” Wong argues that when students block the hallways and walk slowly, it disrupts the flow of foot traffic. Walking quickly is something most people can do easily and is definitely important.
Another student recommendation is exercise. “Start lifting in the gym,” advises Owen Mulloy, ‘26. Working out can improve mental and physical health and help students manage stress. Going to the gym is also a fun thing to do with other students after school; it only requires an hour of time and will lead to lasting friendships. If you don’t know anything about it, there are plenty of people there who can offer help. Getting involved in sports is a similar activity that seniors recommend. “I wish I played more sports freshman year,” remarked Oliver Diamond, ‘26.
A few final words of wisdom? “Balance is key,” declares Hadley Carr, ‘26, who is wise beyond her years. She highlights that it’s important to try hard in school, but also maintain friendships and enjoy the years.
Welcome to Boulder High Freshmen. It’s gonna be a roller coaster.
-Class of ‘26
