Moving from eighth grade to freshman year means that hallways get busier, classes get tougher and the discipline increases.

Welcome to Derby High School.

While the high school experience is different from middle school, that difference can be positive.

“There are so many more opportunities in high school that the middle schools don’t offer,” freshman Serenity Lashinski said.

Lashinski is involved in AFJROTC and cross country.

“DHS has more clubs and you can even create your own,” she said.

Becoming a freshman means thinking about the future, marking a new chapter in life. Freshmen also have the opportunity to start taking classes that give college credit.

As many positives as there are, the schedule has been a big change. While the middle schools have eight classes each day, students are now in a single class for twice the amount of time they had before.

“It’s been hard getting used to the longer classes,” freshman Kysen Robbins said.

But block scheduling has its fans.

“Block scheduling helps me with time management and the teachers also give us more time in class to get stuff done,” freshman Mason Shurtz said.

Freshman Chandler McCracken agreed.

“I like block scheduling a lot,” McCracken said. “It means that I have more time for school work and don’t usually have homework.”

Despite the first shock, many freshmen like Robbins enjoy the newfound freedom that comes with it.

“There is definitely a lot more freedom in high school, especially when it comes to phones since we weren’t allowed to have them at all in middle school,” freshman Harper Lovett said.

Experienced high schoolers who have survived the ups and downs share their advice.

“Get involved and don’t be afraid to make new friends,” senior Savannah Linot said.

Building connections is a first step, but there are countless ways to leave a mark.

“Don’t be scared to leave a positive impact on the school. Fitting in isn’t what’s important, but being kind is,” senior Isaac Hudson said.