As the new school year has begun, Westside High School has welcomed back many familiar faces, including many teachers and students excited for a new year. However, there is one group of people that aren’t so familiar: the freshman class.

Freshman Audrey Hutchinson had a positive take on her experience so far as a freshman.

“[High school is] pretty cool. It’s a lot different than middle school, and it’s a whole different dynamic,” Hutchinson said.

Hutchinson is also a fan of the unique modular scheduling at Westside, and she said she is excited about the new environment at Westside.

“[I’m excited for] getting to know teachers and meeting more people,” Hutchinson said.

Fellow freshman Jianze Yang shared a similar positive outlook to Hutchinson.

“[High school is] a good experience. I think it’s fun,” Yang said.

Even though Yang said she likes how high school has gone so far, she says there are things that could make it better.

“[I’m looking forward to] when school goes back to 100 [percent capacity], so I can see more people [and] have more activities,” Yang said.

Although Yang is optimistic for 100 percent capacity, she said she still has worries about the upcoming years.

“[I’m not scared about much], just the grades and how to get into college, stuff like that,” Yang said.

Much like Hutchinson and Yang, freshman Aylah Pursley also has also had her ups and downs.

“So far [high school is] okay,” Pursley said. “I got a little frustrated with some classes and not being able to switch a class or drop it, [but] otherwise [it is] good.”

Pursley said she likes the idea of modular scheduling.

“I love the modular scheduling, it’s great,” Pursley said.

Pursley said she is looking forward to 100 percent capacity at school, but that’s about it.

“I’m not really looking forward to anything anymore,” Pursley said. “I was really looking forward to homecoming, so it was kind of a letdown when it got canceled.”

Whereas Pursley, Hutchinson, and Yang had brighter views on high school, freshman Spencer Egbert had a much more nonchalant outlook.

“I think it would be better normally, but with [COVID-19] it’s just really boring having to do online school, but the modular scheduling makes it more interesting,” Egbert said.

Egbert was also carefree when it came to more difficult tasks, like honors-level classes.

“[I don’t really have any worries about], all of the classes that I’m in. Some of them are difficult because I’m taking honors classes, but that’s fine,” Egbert said.

Besides the difficulty of honors classes, Egbert said he regrets not being able to take some classes that he wanted.

“I wish I could’ve taken some engineering classes this year, but I didn’t have any space on my schedule,” Egbert said.

Egbert said he has a casual attitude towards his overall outlook for his coming years at the high school.

“I think I’ll like it, I think it’ll be pretty good. I won’t like it, I won’t hate it,” Egbert said.