Freshman year, for many, is seen as a blur due to how overwhelming and stressful it is to be in a whole new environment and be expected to know what to do. However, Pahrump Valley High School’s freshman class has exceeded expectations and has matured and gained newfound independence since the previous year. While change is bound to happen to everyone, it’s always interesting to watch someone you once found scared, nervous, and tense grow into a whole new person, as PVHS saw tense freshmen grow into confident sophomores.
For example, one of the more noticeable changes about last year’s freshmen has to be their confidence shift. Freshmen often come with hesitation, sometimes the littlest things may feel intimidating due to the fear of being embarrassed or overwhelmed with shame. However, now that it’s their sophomore year, many students have figured out what works for them, without being embarrassed or ashamed of what they enjoy. For example, Aiden Hill exclaimed, “I joined Civil Air Patrol because I want to be in the military after high school.” Hill has found what he believes he wants to do in life with a newfound confidence that continues to help him mature and grow as a person and maybe even a future soldier.
Furthermore, social growth has also advanced for our sophomores over time. Friendships that formed in their freshman year often feel much more meaningful now that a whole year has passed. Our sophomores are aware of their value and healthy boundaries as a result of internal maturity. While freshmen are still capable of maturity, sophomores generally have more experience when it comes to conflict due to their older age. Our sophomores are much more relaxed due to the fact that they’ve had a full year to settle into the changes that come with being in high school.
Additionally, Trojan sophomores have evolved academically. The further you get into your academic career, the harder the work becomes, but instead of crushing under all the weight of new challenges, this year’s sophomores have taken initiative and have become more productive and fruitful students to benefit their futures. As a result, Sione Petelo said, “I find myself finishing assignments that I would have put away before.” Petelo is merely an example of how this year’s sophomores have prioritized their school work to benefit their future passions and dreams.
Moreover, maybe the most important change our sophomores have made has to be their attitude. Last year, our sophomores made plenty of mistakes, such as missed assignments, awkward moments, academic setbacks, and more. Nevertheless, you will find that this year, sophomores have changed their whole perspective on mistakes. Now, whenever they find themselves making a mistake, they don’t see it as the end of the world but instead as a chance to improve, and to adapt to the situation they find themselves in, with experience and hard work Trojan sophomores have found resilience, and with that a chance to build a strong foundation that will help them persevere through high school and beyond.
In conclusion, PVHS’s sophomores have experienced substantial growth since their first year in high school and have proven it time and time again. Now, these students only continue to grow and become the person they want to be in adulthood, and hopefully, these students will try their best and become successful people later in life. Our sophomores have come a very long way since their first time inside PVHS, so say hello and wish them luck for the long future to come.
