This year there are over 600 incoming freshmen. I am one of them. I came from a very small middle school in a pretty small city, so the transition from middle to high was a little harder than I expected, but then again, there were some easier parts.  

One of the best things about Clements are the people. The teachers are very understanding and always willing and wanting to help. The school is immensely large, and because of that, it’s very hard to find your classes, especially during the first week. Thankfully, there were teachers standing in every hall to lead students to their classes.

There are so many people at Clements, and it can be a good thing or not so good thing. The positive part is that you can always find a club that you’re interested in, and it’s very easy to fit in. The bad part of having so many classmates is that there will be more students per teachers, so we don’t get the one-on-one attention that we were used to in elementary and middle school. For example, in middle school I had some classes with about seven to ten people in it. Now, I walk into a room where all the seats are filled. Our teachers in middle school would walk around the classroom and go to every student to ask “Are you doing okay? Do you need help?” Unfortunately, we don’t get that same attention in high school. At Clements, if you need help, then you have to come in the mornings or the afternoons. Plus, it’s harder to get a higher academic rating with that large amount of people. On the other hand, a pro of having so many students is that you get to meet people from all different backgrounds. There are people from all over the world at Clements. In just one week, I’ve met people from Japan, India, China, Mexico, Panama, and so many other countries.

Clements is little larger than other school in the area. Because of that, there is a lot more traffic around the school all day. But, there are also a lot more teachers, clubs and classes. You have a more likely chance of finding a class you like and being able to be a part of it through the various options Clements has to offer. And because there are so many teachers, if one teacher is unavailable, you can always go to another for help. Whether you take that class or not, teachers will always help you succeed.

The amount of people at Clements is pretty overwhelming, so that made the transition from middle school to high school slightly harder than I thought it would be, but the same people who made the school seem so overwhelming also made Clements feel so open and welcoming.

And to all the freshmen: Welcome to Clements!