(Throughout the year Lasso Online reporter and freshman Meredith Kerrigan will be providing readers with an insider’s view of what the transition to high school is like. Herewith are her first observations.)

Transitioning into high school can be a very hard and stressful change for most students, but since George Mason is a middle school and high school put together, it makes the transition a little easier. High school has been a huge leap into the “real world.”

Back in middle school you never realized how dependent you were on the teachers or how small and immature you really were. Personally, I would have to say high school is much better than middle school and my friends seem to say the same thing.  “In high school there’s more freedom,” exclaimed ninth graders Lauren Jekowsky and Annie Zweighaft.

That there is indeed; you can wear whatever you want, chew gum and not have to spit it out, participate in more activities, and you’re given much more responsibility. “My favorite part of high school would be the dress code, all the guys, gum, no uniforms,” exclaimed some freshmen friends of mine.

The bad part of high school would be “being the youngest,” explained Nikki Williamson and “not seeing all of your friends at lunch,” said Annie Zweighaft. The first day of high school, some people were excited, some scared, and some had mixed feelings. The teachers though cleared up all of those thoughts. “All of the teachers have been nice, but strict,” concluded Lauren Jekowsky. Another freshman explained, “The teachers are nice and great.” The teachers have seemed to be helpful and enthusiastic to teach their newcomers. Based on the first days of schools, freshmen have been saying  that this will be a crazy yet fun year!