Freshman year can be an exciting and intimidating time. New people, new classes, and new experiences. We all knew what it was like to be a freshman; you want to feel welcome and just be seen and heard. From The Scratching Post and the rest of the student body, welcome class of 2019!

Scratching Post: “Thoughts on VHHS so far?”

Nathan Jay: “It’s good. I think people overestimate the jump from 8th grade to 9th grade. Classes are a bit longer school is about an hour-longer actually-and you get a bit more homework, but it’s about the same as 8th grade. Just more freedom.”

Scratching Post: “What’s the biggest difference/change from middle school to high school?”

Nathan Jay: “Probably the fact that I can bike instead of riding the bus everyday. It’s way closer.”

Scratching Post: “Are you involved in any activities at VHHS?”

Nathan Jay: “Computer club,media club, and I do band. I almost did pep band too but I had to pick one, so next year I’ll be doing pep band because I’m going be in wind ensemble. I was considering strategy club but interferes with media club.”

Scratching Post: “Thoughts on VHHS so far?”

Jibie Joseph:  “It’s a pretty welcoming place, there’s nice people, and there’s a lot of people you can look up to for help.”

Scratching Post: “What’s the biggest difference/change from middle school to high school?”

Jibie Joseph: “Getting around usually you’re singular and you’re on your own. You’re more independent when you’re in high school, rather than in middle school where you see a lot of the same people. It’s nice, it’s better. I like being independent than being with other people sometimes.”

Scratching Post: “Are you involved in any activities at VHHS?”

Jibie Joseph: “Yes I’m on the freshman tennis team and maybe VIP.”

Scratching Post: “Favorite class?”

Ethan Schuster: “Probably Literature and Composition with Mr.Smith because he is full of energy and he makes us interact a lot, and some teachers kind of sit there and just talk.””

Scratching Post: “What are you looking most forward to during these four years?”

Ethan Schuster: “Getting involved as much as possible and actually doing a lot. I want to do a ton of stuff; I’ve already signed up for clubs. I want to do stuff to get involved and interact with everybody.”

Scratching Post: “Do you feel that you were adequately informed and prepared for high school?”

Ethan Schuster: “Yeah I guess. I’m prepared; I know what to have and all that. I mean on the first day of course I had a freshman backpack. I’m starting to get used to it. I’m starting to know what to put in my backpack actually.”

Scratching Post: “Favorite class?”

Jack Mulcrone: “I’d say World History Honors because Mrs. Lounsbury is very energetic, nice, and a good teacher. It’s been a fun time in that class so far.”

Scratching Post: “What’s the biggest difference/change from middle school to high school?”

Jack Mulcrone: “It feels like you’re a lot more independent than you were in middle school because the teachers in middle school were always like ‘oh you’ve got to get ready to make sure you do your assignment, it’s due tomorrow’ but now they give you the due date and you’re expected to do it then. Like middle school teachers they want you to do well, and they try to make you do well but high school teachers expect you to do well. So you have to bring your stuff to the table.”

Scratching Post: “What are you looking most forward to during these four years?”

Jack Mulcrone: “I’m looking forward to the clubs JSA and FMPA and I’m also looking forward to boys tennis.”

Scratching Post: “Thoughts on VHHS so far?”

Tayla Wilkerson: “It’s really fun;  I prefer it over middle school. I was going to go to Mundelein, but you guys are really welcoming; it’s okay to be a freshman.

Scratching Post: “What’s the biggest difference/change from middle school to high school?”

Tayla Wilkerson: “Your food is way better. The teachers go at a faster pace than the middle school teachers; it would take 2 weeks to get through one lesson during middle school.”

Scratching Post: “Do you feel that you were adequately informed and prepared for high school?”

Tayla Wilkerson: “Yes, even though it took a lot of time to prepare us most of the kids are maturing now so now I think its better.”

Scratching Post: “Thoughts on VHHS so far?”

Gaby Sarmiento: “High school is really fun so far. It’s a little challenging here and there but it’s a really fun time for me.”

Scratching Post: “What are you looking most forward to during these four years?”

Gaby Sarmiento:“I’m looking forward to getting on the varsity swim team as well as being a lifeguard and then maybe I would do some other clubs that I haven’t tried. I’ve seen a lot of them so just depending what I feel interested in.:

Scratching Post: “Do you feel that you were adequately informed and prepared for high school?”

Gaby Sarmiento:“I was I think we were guided pretty well. I think that the students who are helping us were telling us all the opportunities we have, as well as some of the stuff we should be looking forward to. I think we were well informed.”