My Freshman Year of High School

 With summer starting, the school year has slowly come to end. This was my first year in high school, and definitely taught me a lot. Honestly, this school year has taught me much more about myself and how to act in certain environments and situations.

One of the greatest challenges I faced this school year was balancing my school work and grades with my demanding figure skating practices. Although it did take some effort of change on my hand, I think I have figured out a good balance between the two. Also, other extra curriculars, such as volunteering and being a junior coach, took up time as well. Once in a while I had to remind myself to take a day break from all the chaos and just relax.

Along with all of the stressful moments, this school year held many fun school events and meeting a lot of new people. Coming from a different school district, I was afraid that it would be difficult to find friends that were not already in a set group. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find many people in the same situation as me. I became the closest I have ever been with friends and have found the right people to survive high school with. One of the highlights of the school year was the homecoming dance, where I went with some new friends and had a lot of fun. In-N-Out was served as food, along with many candy booths. 

Despite dealing with a fractured fibula that sidelined me for part of the year, I didn’t let that stop me. I kept my 4.0 GPA and even qualified for the 2025 Excel National Final & Festival, an achievement that meant even more after the recovery I had to fight through. Competing at nationals, even when I didn’t place where I wanted, taught me more about perseverance than any textbook ever could. There were moments of frustration and exhaustion, especially dealing with pain, elevation changes, and trying to return to full strength, but I kept going.

This year wasn’t just about scores or grades. It was about learning who I am when things get hard. It showed me that I’m someone who won’t give up—whether that’s in the classroom, on the ice, or in life. Looking back, freshman year challenged me in ways I never expected, but it also laid the foundation for who I’m becoming: someone strong, determined, and ready for whatever comes next.