Sara McCormick John McGregor Heather McKean Ephraim McKenzie Bryan McKinney Nik Mebane Jason Meisel
Angie Menoher Anne Meredith Jessica Merkle Emily Messersmith Andor Meszaros Nathan Metzel Jason Meyer
Anthony Miccio Allyson Miller Brooke Miller Meredith Miller Miranda Milliron Micah Minasi Jackie Mintmier
Corey Monsell Trisha Montalbo Melissa Moore Anna Morrison Jessica Muha Jessica Mulberger Jessica Murnane
Moving to
the Big
League TEAM SPIRIT. Taking a break, Megan Von Leer watches her fellow field hockey team members. ln
high school freshmen were able to participate in interscholastic sports on a varsity level. Plrolo by Y. Pickeri11g
140 FIRSTS
by Ben Reidell and Amber Dance During the nine months of the school year, members of the Class of '98 experienced their first taste of high school life. They finally made the jump from the junior high school to the big leagues. The majority of the ninth-graders believed that the change was ultimately for the better. One difference between the high school and the junior high was that there were more electives and after school activities from which the freshmen could choose. Freshmen had the opportunity to take a variety of courses inareassuchasforeignlanguages, art, home economics, English, and business. After school they could devote their time to sports or to a myriad of clubs. Most freshmen agreed with Rebecca Pangborn when she said, "There are more opportunities to do the things that you like doing." There was also a difference in the style of teaching and in the classes themselves at the high school. In her classes, Jessica Merkle noticed the difference:
"Some were harder and some were easier." Most freshmen agreed that difficulty levels depended on the course material and on the teachers' policies. Not only were the cl?sses different, but so were the buildings. Freshmen appreciated having real walls instead of the folding walls which were the norm back at the junior high. As Jessica Swavely responded, "It's better than the cardboard kingdom!" Another first was the freedom that students experienced. Hans Coetzee commented, "You can go to your locker whenever you want." The students liked the extra two minutes to go to their classes as well. The freshmen managed to adjust after a few weeks to the new and improved high school atmosphere. They looked forward to their sophomore year for many reasons. The numerous opportunities and freedoms at the high school would still exist, but they would no longer be the youngest in the school.