Starting at a new school can be exciting, but it also comes with challenges. Whether it’s making friends, getting used to teachers, or adjusting to the school environment, every student has a different experience. Some find it welcoming, while others struggle to fit in. Here’s what a few students had to say about their first year at Doherty High School. 

A student who preferred to stay anonymous, didn’t have the best start to his high school journey. “Freshman year basically sucked,” he admitted. While he didn’t have issues with his teachers, describing them as “relatively nice,” he wasn’t a fan of the school’s leadership at the time. “The last principal wasn’t so great,” he added. Academically, he felt that he learned a good amount, but there were still things that stood out as negatives. “The traffic was terrible,” he said, shaking his head during our interview. 

Ian Stacks, on the other hand, had a much more positive experience as a newcomer. When asked how others treated him during his freshman year, he didn’t hesitate. “Fantastically. Very great,” he said. He felt welcomed by both students and teachers and had no complaints about how his classes were run. “The teachers did a good job at teaching,” Ian stated, though he admitted that some of his classes moved a little too slowly for his liking. Unlike Finn, Ian didn’t have issues with school traffic. “It was decent,” he said. He also had an easier time making friends at Doherty compared to his last school. His advice for new students? “Make friends and have fun.” 

For Kyra Runge, her first year at Doherty was just okay. She had mixed feelings about how teachers handled classwork. “They were prioritizing just handing out the work rather than thoroughly explaining it,” she pointed out. Despite this, she was satisfied with her schedule. “I got all the classes I asked for,” she said. Like Ian, Kyra didn’t have trouble making friends, which made her transition easier. When asked what advice she would give to new students, she kept it simple: “If I could give any advice to newcomers to Doherty, it is to simply be yourself.” 

Kyle Williams had a freshman year filled with ups and downs. “My first semester was good,” he said, “but the second one wasn’t too great.” He felt that teachers were somewhat helpful in his learning, though not all of them made an effort to ensure students fully understood the material. Unlike Kyra, he didn’t get all the classes he wanted, which made things more frustrating. One of the biggest struggles for him was making connections. “Going to Doherty didn’t make finding friends easier,” Kyle admitted. “It was harder for me.” His advice for newcomers was a bit different from the others. “Don’t trust everyone you meet,” he warned. 

Every student has a unique experience when starting at a new school. Some find it easy to adjust, while others face challenges. From making friends to dealing with class schedules, everyone’s journey is different. Whether it’s a great first year or a tough one, every newcomer has a story to tell.