Fresh(wo)men

Freshmen!

This page of the blog is just for you. There will be updates about events at school that especially concern your class as well as general advice on getting through your first year at St. Mary's.

Freshmen enjoy their first class color day.

Photo by Lee Rost. 

Some Advice

We hope you’re enjoying your first quarter at SMA! High school is a great time to get to know yourself and explore your interests. Your first year is especially fun - make sure you take advantage of it. Here is a short list of things we’ve learned through experience about how to navigate through freshman year at SMA.

1.      Go to class. It may be tempting to ditch but SMA keeps tabs on everyone and they will find out.

2.      Use your planner wisely and keep track of it. Have you seen a girl crying in the hallway recently? She probably lost her planner. Don’t let that be you.

3.      Learn to love your TA. Chances are your close friends are not all in your TA, but you should still get to know your group because given time, they will become your closest friends. The less time you spend in awkward silence with them, the more time you can spend bonding and sharing food.

4.      Balance middle school and high school friends. Definitely keep in touch with your middle school friends but make sure you also make time for your new friends. Going to other schools’ events like football games and dances is a great way to stay connected, and inviting your old friends to SMA events can be fun, too.  

5.      Try to find some extracurriculars that interest you within this first semester. SMA has over 40 different clubs and activities so there really is something for everyone. If you’re a little bit nervous about going to a club for the first time, grab a friend and bring her along! That makes it much easier and always remember, if you don’t like something, you’re not obligated to go again. Freshman year is all about exploring your interests and trying new things. The link is a list of all of our clubs as well as a short description of each and the days they meet.  

            http://stmaryspdx.org/student_life/clubs_and_activities

Frosh Immersion
"In the fall, all freshmen participate in a one day homeless immersion with their TA.  Students learn about issues of homelessness by engaging in dialogue with their peers and with people who live on the street.  This immersion experience is an excellent way to help students become educated about poverty and social justice through experiences and conversation.  Reflection on the experience helps students focus on the needs of others and examine their own values and perceptions." (St. Mary's website, Campus Ministry page)
Frosh Immersion is coming up next week! This experience is a really good way to get to know the homeless community, who are our neighbors here in downtown. You'll be split into small groups and along with a student and adult leader, you'll have the chance to explore some local agencies that exist to serve the homeless. You'll also be able to talk to some homeless people. This might be a little bit scary and it's totally natural to feel nervous about this experience, but keep an open mind throughout and you'll be able to learn a lot. Pictured are a few places you might visit on your immersion. Have fun!