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FRESHMAN JOURNAL
Behind the
Lines at Berkeley High
October 1999: Freshman
Frustration
© Copyright 1999 by Parents' Press
Our Berkeley (California) High School freshman has chosen to be anonymous so she can write more freely.
Orientation was like a taste of high school, leaving us all wanting more. They sent us on a treasure hunt, a way of enabling us both to find our own way around the school, and to find out some of the need-to-know 411.
A list of "hints" was passed out, and we were instructed to find each place, fill out the information we needed (such as the time the health clinic opened, or what materials the library offered), and pick up the "treat" at each station (treats ranged from various sweets to plastic frogs!).
Next we lined up for ID cards and school pictures. It was hot and sweaty, and the line lasted 45 minutes. Many of us used the (annoying) treasure hunt list as a hand-held fan, for lack of anything else.
I was nervous about my school picture. Last year's had been awful! The hair style, the make-up, everything! I didn't care about my ID card picture so much, but I couldn't help fretting about the one that would be put in the yearbook! Ahhhh!
The whole place was full of crammed bodies as I was finally admitted into the building. I reverently wished I could go back to the small community I once lived in, where the high school had 900 students in all! Not per grade!
The day before school, all I could think of was the homework. The dreaded homework the pounds of homework the never-ending stack, leaving me frustrated and exhausted. The other thing I was worried about Freshman Friday. Eggs flying through the air (especially at me) was not my idea of fun.
In the morning I was offered a ride to school, I accepted, glad to escape the crowded bus! I was silent on the ride to Berkeley High and I was asked, "Are you nervous?"
"No, just cold. And sore. That aerobics class really killed me." In truth, though, I was a bit antsy. Nervous about what other students would think of me, what teachers I'll get stuck with, what classes I'll get, and Freshman Friday.
On Wednesday (our first day of school) the main office and counselors' offices were packed. They had given the freshmen class only one counselor instead of dividing the students up equally among the four counselors! Many, many of the freshmen had been given schedules with missing periods or "see counselor" (because the class was filled). Or the computer had just given them random classes.
So, the line was long . . . and slow. Especially when it took five minutes to help each person! People were told to leave, come back when it says you should. "What if you have a missing period?" "I'm a parent" "My son needs art class" "I've been waiting in line for an hour!!! When am I going to see the counselor?" Questions lashed out at the offending principal as she turned people away, angering many students and parents alike.
When I finally got to my Latin class, my scheduling problem still not taken care of, I arrived late. Ms. Herndon had started the class already, and was busy cramming the Romans' tongue into her pupils' brains, and onto their paper. Already I was lost! And on the first day!
"We'll have a quiz tomorrow,"
she announces.
"Learn numbers 1-11 . . ." she continues as she passes
out the lesson sheet. "Ahhhh!" my brain screams. Considering
each word has several definitions, it's crucial to remember if
the word is either masculine, feminine or neuter, and remember
the spelling along with pronunciation: it's a lot of work!!!
Ahhhhh!
The rest of my day was filled with dashing from class to class, frequent checks of the schedule, and my eyes growing wide as thousands of students burst from their classrooms like ants from a cookie jar, into the halls! I struggled to learn the names of people I sat with, and we gave in to calling one another "Hey you!" since all our attempts had failed.
Freshman Friday. The school reeked of paranoia, and freshmen began disappearing from class more and more as the day went on. Usually the guys get it the hardest. Anything from small-time bullying to an egg in the face.
After 7th period the courtyard began filling with a stream of teens who poured out from various buildings. Freshmen trailed out gingerly, fearing an egg attack as they exited through one of the gates. Many of us, though, stayed in the yard, chatting and pretending to be at ease.
Suddenly a shriek was heard from across the yard. Everyone jerked toward the noise in time to see a solo egg arc beautifully toward several of the students. Screams and nervous laughter erupted as the students, freshman and senior alike, ran for cover. My friend and I jogged along with the rest, laughing as cries echoed across the yard knowing it wasn't just freshmen.
Other attacks consisted of flour bombs, small bullying incidents, and the stealing of a baloney sandwich. My friend described a bag of flour being thrown over a fence, showering her and her friends. "And I'm a senior!" she exclaimed, surprised.
My best friend and I are immensely fortunate we are female, tall, and look older than 14 (heehee). But I can't wait till homecoming! At least then Fearful Fridays will not exist for the freshmen. Heehee.
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Berkeley,
CA High School
Freshman Journal Archives
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