My heart was racing when I walked through the doors of Eastern High School. This is the day I have been waiting for since I was a little girl. I am starting a new chapter as a freshman, and I couldn’t be happier. 

     Never would I imagine though, that my year would be filled with masks, vaccines, social distancing, and restricted activities. High school is supposed to be filled with making new friends and socializing with new people, but instead we are told to wear masks and stay away from each other. 

     The transition from Voorhees Middle School to Eastern Regional High School, which is shared between three towns, is a big change. Not only are there ten times more people, but it is also ten times bigger.

     The biggest change for me is how far my classes are from each other. When I first learned about the six minute break in between each class, I thought that was more than enough time. I even thought it would be like the movies where everyone is talking by each other’s lockers. Now, I don’t even have time to stop and say hi to my friends in whatever wing I’m in. 

     Personally, I’m good at directions, but some of my friends still don’t have any idea where they are going. Orientation was helpful, but there was absolutely no possible way that I was going to be able to remember the routes three weeks later on the first day of school.  

     I already have a lot of homework, and I would be lying if I said I was prepared. Stress has always been an issue for me, so this school year I plan on focusing on how to manage stress levels and balance my time out. I want to have enough time to fit everything in, and also have time for myself to rest. 

     Thankfully, I have had a lot of help from my family. Everyday I need to get driven to and from all my different activities as a fourteen year old freshman who doesn’t have their license, I can only imagine how much of a pain it is for my parents and grandparents to haul me to everywhere that I need to be.  

     During this past summer and the start of the school year, I have noticed how much my family cares about me. No matter if we are in the car driving to my next destination, or having a family dinner, we make the best of the time we have to spend together.