The night before Aug. 13, 2025, the incoming freshmen of Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) were experiencing mixed feelings for their ninth grade debut. Along with the anxiety that is often accompanied with entering a new school, there are many exciting hopes and dreams for the upcoming four-year period.
Switching to a new school can be an anxious experience for anyone, especially when it comes to transitioning from middle school to high school. Students come from many different schools, places and backgrounds, finding friends or like-minded individuals can be a stressful experience. Not only can it be rough on a social level, but navigating a brand new environment and attempting to find the right classrooms can often be confusing.
Roman Garcia ‘29, a 14-year-old arriving from Ventura Missionary School (VMS), shared his thoughts before entering high school. “I was a bit nervous, but then the closer it got, the more excited I was.”
Many students were already familiar with the campus due to their involvement in programs connecting from their former schools. A freshman from Homestead, Ella Wong ‘29, had similar feelings to Garcia the day before the start of school, but with one difference. “[I was] so nervous,” Wong stated. “[But] I’ve been here before for ASB, so it wasn’t as bad as … it would’ve been if I hadn’t.”
A common goal amongst many ninth graders is earning high grades and achieving academic success in the next four years, whether that be through GPA or various extracurricular activities.
Sydney Traub ‘29 from Anacapa Middle School (AMS), is already thinking ahead for future Foothill Tech generations, stating that “[I want to get] good grades, but being in ASB I want to try and help improve the school and make it a less nerve-wracking experience for freshmen.”
While entering a new school is a substantial change for most, it brings a lot of exciting new opportunities through pathways, clubs and the potential to form new friendships. In the end, there is little to be nervous about, because the Foothill Tech community is always there to support newcomers.
“I feel good about this year,” Wong concludes, “I think it’s going to be fun, and I like being here at Foothill.”
