For the kids who were lost their sophomore, junior or senior year, for the kids who didn’t have anyone to sit with at lunch, for the kids who came into class feeling anxious, not knowing anyone. These kids are often overlooked.

Every August about 1500 Broomfield High School students rush into the hallways to meet their friends. They catch up about summer, they show off their shiny new backpacks, and they compare schedules, hoping they have the same classes. But what about the kids who are new? The kids who don’t even know where to find their math and science classes?

Walking into a new school is scary (as dumb as it sounds),  but no one wants to be the new kid. The day before school begins, freshmen students join their blue crew leaders and spend a whole day adapting to life at Broomfield High School. They dress up in crazy costumes and crowd the halls.

The day before school begins, about 80 new students meet in the cafeteria to tour their new school. They sit in a large circle, in a dark cafeteria, as hundreds of freshmen wander the halls finding their classes.

It’s awkward, it’s uncomfy, it’s not a great first impression of a new school. As a sophomore, I transfered to Broomfield. I felt scared and excited. I had never been to such a large school with so many people.

Not to say Broomfield wasn’t welcoming but sitting in a circle in a dark cafeteria surrounding by kids that are as nervous isn’t an ideal situation. I respect the people who put time and energy into making a smoother transition for new students but I wish teachers and the rest of the student body would have been more supportive.

As I started my days at Broomfield, I easily remember the teachers who helped and supported me and the teachers who didn’t. It made the difference between a good day and a bad day.

Freshman are helped so drastically when they are new, they have orientation and Blue Crew to adjust to a new school. New students don’t need that amount of help transitioning but they still should have some support. Eagles NEST helps students transition but they should take more action in the beginning of the year when students actually need it. We don’t want to be treated as freshmen but we do want to have support.

The last thing a new student wants is to feel different. They want to blend in and be like the other students, they want to be apart of those friend groups, and they want to have people to eat lunch with. As a school, I think we can improve our friendliness to new students. We need to help spread a more welcoming environment to new students.