WOODBURY- The first day of high school is a memorable milestone for everyone. Getting up early with anticipation, eager to take the first step into a new world. For some, it can be an immensely nerve-wracking experience, while for others, it represents a refreshing new chapter in their lives.

“It’s exhilarating to finally be in high school,” freshman Mackenzie Blood said.”I’ve been waiting for this day for years.”

Freshmen are ready for this push and want to continue growing in life. Climbing the ladder and taking that step is something they are ready for.

“I feel ready to start this part of my life and start challenging myself more with harder classes,” freshman Kylie Gibson said.“With Nonnewaug’s wide variety of classes, it makes it more fun to decide what classes to challenge myself with.”

Not only is it exciting to start high school, but it can also be very intimidating. For some, it’s because they start school with a whole new class, while for others, it’s due to the pressure of high school.

“I was mainly nervous about the size of the school, there are so many people, and it can be stressful,” freshman Anthony Popielasz said. “When walking through the halls, there is never a second that someone is not bumping into you.”

“A big challenge was navigating where all the classes are. With so many extracurricular classes, it can be difficult to find your class before the bell rings. It is also very hard to enjoy classes right now because I come from out of district, so I only have a few friends, and I don’t have classes with all of them, ” Gibson added.

Freshmen may be having a hard time navigating the halls, but many teachers and students are lending a helping hand to the freshmen.

“There are so many people from the harbor program who have come to my rescue when I’m trying to find my classes. It is a good feeling to know there are people here to help,” Blood said.

Woodbury FFA is a big attraction that students are looking at when coming to Nonnewaug. Students find ag classes are a fun way to relax after a day of academic classes.

“Ag adds to the comfort and fun part of Nonnewaug. I can drive tractors and learn hands-on life skills instead of sitting in a classroom,” Popielasz said. “Ag class gives me a different perspective on learning. It’s practical, and I feel like I’m gaining skills I can use in real life.”

For some, these ag classes are their first step into the agriculture world. So going to a high school with an ag program helps make their first step easier, said students.

“Spending time with the animals in our Agriculture program is the highlight of my day. I love the ag class because I get to work with animals,” Blood said. “Taking care of them and learning about their behavior is so fascinating.”