Wednesday, August 6th of 2025 was the day where over 600 freshmen started high school. Starting a new chapter in their lives.
Some students are worrying about driving, others are trying to turn over a new leaf and be better students, both with their attitudes and behavior in class as well as their academics. Everything in high school is new and intimidating. And has way higher stakes.
Samantha Krider, a mental health counselor in Parkview’s student assistance program, said that the greatest stressors for incoming freshman are the social dynamics.
“Its a new building, new peers, new policies/procedures, new teachers. The social pressures that often come with fitting in, making friends, keeping friends, and even losing friends are intense as a freshman,” she said. “There is a lot of adjustment happening and so much changing all at once.”
That’s not all. A large portion of freshman are in sports or an extra curricular. Whether it is football, or softball, they both require more time and effort at the high school level.
Marly Morey, a freshman who does Cross Country, Swim and Dive, and Track said that she has felt overwhelmed with the amount of homework each night after a tiring workout.
But its not just the students that are committed to sports or activities that feel pressure.
Leona Nagel, a freshman who is not in extracurriculars, said that she 100% feels more pressure in high school compared to middle school. Both with social pressures as well as the increased workload. The size of Carroll compared to the size of Maple Creek, the middle school she attended, does not help in the slightest. But it is only freshman year. As we continue through high school it will all become less daunting.
Students now need a way to release all of their newly acquired stress. Samantha Krider said, there are really four main ways that students deal with what’s on their mind. The first three being negative ways, spreading rumors, gossiping or simply shoving their anxieties deep deep down. The one positive coping method, that is most popular, is reaching out for help, whether that’s telling their parents or going to a counselor. The students figure out a healthy and positive way to expend and manage their emotions.
It really is impressive when a young adult recognizes that they don’t have the best mental health. What’s more, instead of ignoring that fact, they connect with someone that they know will try their very best to help, or give them the tools to restore their mental well being. This is becoming a more and more rare on account of our younger generations not having all of the necessary information to help themselves or friends. Yes, students are told to report if a friend is making worrying comments, or tell an adult if they are having terrible thoughts. But there is so much more information that could aid against the growing epidemic of anxiety and depression.
Students will remember both the good and the bad of those vital four years. The years that shape who they will be as they grow and step into adulthood. They need love and support from those around them. Don’t be the odd one out.
