By Isha Trivedi '19

ND’s freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors recently gathered together in JB Hall for the first time in the 2017-2018 school year to kick off the start of a new leadership theme, a new class, new teachers and a new year full of exciting opportunities. For many freshmen, the transition from junior high to high school was a daunting one––entering a brand new environment knowing hardly anyone isn’t an easy feat. From trying to find the right classroom to making new friends, freshman year is jam-packed with important learning experiences and memorable moments. As they embark on many first-time experiences, the rest of the ND community is ready to support them––from setting aside freshman lunch tables during the first week of school to the overall friendly nature of the rest of the faculty and students, the freshmen are already learning about the inner workings of ND.

For Ziana Sarkari ‘21, the hardest part of these first few weeks of high school has been “running in between classes and keeping track of all the books you need,” which is a struggle that all students face, regardless of their class year. Sarkari said that the ND community has been “very welcoming regardless of where you come from,” and has “been like a big family” to her, right away from the start of the year. As for the rest of the school year, ASB and campus ministry have some great ideas in store to get freshmen more integrated in the community, so keep an eye out for some new events!