As eighth graders approach their final days as a middle school student, they are faced with one of their biggest challenges yet—transitioning to a bigger, and at times, scarier, school.

When the start of the school year rolls around this Fall, these future high schoolers will decide for themselves whether their favorite teenage-focused television show accurately portrays the typical high school hallway.

“I’m going into high school with a positive outlook,” eighth grader Gabriella Baker said. “I’m a little nervous about being the smallest kid in the school again and about being able to handle the workload and more advanced classes, but I’m pretty confident I’ll be able to balance everything.”

In addition to having harder classes, being a CHS freshman also means taking on a whole lot more responsibility in other school-related areas.

According to eighth grader Sheerin Naimi, it may be difficult to get rid of her middle school habits like “getting to school late” and “leaving homework for the last minute.”

“I have to face it sooner or later that college is coming, so I definitely need to work harder,” Naimi said.

According to Naimi, being picked on by upperclassmen is not an experience she is eager to encounter.

“I’m not looking forward to my brother giving me a wedgie and shoving me into a locker on Freshman Friday, but at least he’ll be a senior so I can make him drive home to bring me lunch,” Naimi said.

Quite a few incoming freshmen are flooding in from various private schools around the county.

After spending elementary and middle school at a private school, eighth grader Maddy Kramer feels she is ready to take on attending a public school for the first time.

“I’m nervous about the adjustment in size because it will be significantly larger compared to Norwood,” Kramer said. “But I’m really glad to finally go to high school because it’s one step closer to the future.”

Many fear that the rigorous course load and various extracurricular activities that are often taken on at the start of high school will make for a difficult transition.

According to eighth grader Sydney Jackson, balancing her academics with her activities may be troublesome.

“It’s going to be tough keeping track of my homework, tests, and grades, while also keeping up with all my extracurriculars,” Jackson said. “I’m going to have so many more choices in classes and after-school activities, so I’ll have to learn to manage everything.”

Adjusting to an earlier schedule will also be a more challenging transition for many incoming freshmen.

Eighth grader Michael Wolf enjoys taking his time in the mornings before middle school and does not want to “have to wake up super early.”

“It’ll be a long and demanding ride leading up to senior year, but I’m excited to take it,” eighth grader Hana Mangat said.

The rumors and gossip about CHS that is whispered amongst a group of middle schoolers will never end, but one thing is for certain: high school is quite the experience. It can be exhilarating or can be seemingly impossible to manage, but it is what you make of it.