The end of the school year inevitably brings nostalgia for seniors looking back over their high school careers, as well as increasing anxiety for the freshmen about to enter the halls.

  There is definitely a culture built up around high school in American media. Films such as “Clueless” and the “High School Musical” trilogy all contribute to certain views of Granite Bay High before many students even get here.

  “(When I was) growing up, I watched all those movies with the popular group who bullies everybody and is like making fun of like freshmen or whatever,” said Jerimae Pielago, an incoming freshman. As a result, she was worried about “clique-ish” behavior when she gets to GBHS.

  However, for many seniors, reality proved to be very different from expectations.

  “I was told high school was going to be this terrible place where everyone hated each other, but it’s really not the case at all,” senior Andrew Oretta said. “What really made me believe that was when the popular girl, Addie Follett, was in front of me at Starbucks and bought my drink for me. I had never really talked to her, but it was just so nice and sweet.”

  Even beyond the social environment, social growth individually is something to be expected at GBHS.

  “When I first came here I was really awkward because, technically, I wasn’t supposed to go here, I was supposed to go to Roseville High School,” senior Nishita Fernandes said. “So coming here, I really did not know a lot of people and was pretty shy overall (during my) freshman year. … I think I’ve done better socially since then.”

  Seniors consistently said they believe high school allowed them to grow as people and become more aware of the world around them.

  “(High school) helped me open up, not be shy, and be a better thinker and influenced me to be better, more so in high school than in middle school or elementary school,” Fernandes said. “Now I actually think about things.”

  Oretta made his own self-discoveries.

  “I discovered I’m naturally a happy, happy person,” he said. “I laugh at everything, I smile at everyone, and I just love to be around people. Oh yeah, also, I’m, like, super gay.”

  Ironically, freshmen these days seem to be most consistently concerned about their college apps.

  “As a freshman, one of my major worries is finding my classes,” incoming freshman Berry Dy said. “Another one of my worries is keeping my grades up. I know that my extracurricular activity (band) will take up my time, so I am worried about being able to find time for my activities as well as completing my work on time.”
  This theme seemed to pervade the minds of quite a few freshmen.

  “I’m definitely worried about grades and college apps and everything,” Pielago said.

  However, to many seniors who went through the college application process, this seemed to be the last thing on their minds as they’re about to graduate.   

  What was more important to them were the relationships they formed and the memories they made during their high school career.

  “I’ve gone to most of the dances, performed in a rally, ran across the sideline of the football field and Tribe, won awards for my photography, and made some of the best friends I could ask for,” Oretta said.