The Freshmen Commandments According To An Upperclassman

By STEPHAN LENAHAN, GB Youth Board

Published: August 21, 2003

So you think you have what it takes to be in high school? Well, let me help you out just a little since I made plenty of mistakes as an underclassman.

Rule #1: Thou shalt not use rollie bookbags!

If you bring a rollie bookbag into high school it will definitely be kicked and you may lose control of it. Your high school is not Concourse E in Hartsfield Airport; you WILL have back problems just like the rest of us.

Rule #2: Thou shalt not try to avoid the fact that you’re a freshman.

If you want to really make upperclassmen mad tell them that you don’t care that they’re older and your class is still cool. No one wants to hear how proud you are to be in high school. We have been there for two, three and going on four years. Let me just inform you that no matter how cool, cute or cuddly you think you are, some people refer to freshmen as “fresh meat.”

Rule #3: Thou shalt not stand in the middle of the hallway and talk (especially to other freshmen).

This rule actually applies to all those in high school. All you are doing when you talk or stop in the hallway is holding up traffic and blocking the flow. Believe it or not there are some upperclassmen who are trying to get to class on time so just maybe they can get into college.

Rule #4: Thou shalt not study a map of thy school.

If you have to study a map of the school then chances are you are going to get lost either way. Your school will look much different in person than it does on paper. If you do get lost don’t admit it, just keep walking and act like you know exactly where you are going.

Rule #5: Thou shalt not have it set in thy mind that thou art going to follow all of these rules.

Most likely you will break one, if not all of them, during the first week of school. As long as you don’t break rule #1 you will be forgiven and accepted in high school for any of the other rules you break.

I do have one final rule, however. I call it the Golden Rule.

The Golden Rule: Thou shalt not forget that we were all freshmen before thou and we broke these rules and maybe other ones that aren’t even mentioned in this article. Have fun in high school because these are some of the most fun times we are going to have.

Also remember to be bold in your faith and don’t be afraid to be a Christian in all that you do. Having a Christian attitude can mean that you will show the Truth to those who have never seen it or lived it before.

As Pope John Paul II says, “Do not be afraid.”

Stephen Lenahan is a junior at Our Lady of Mercy High School in Fairburn and made it through both his freshman and sophomore years relatively unscathed. His performance as a junior is yet to be determined.