It’s Wednesday, your first day of school. The sun is shining, and you’re ready to make your way to class and meet your new friends for the year. Hold on– why is that person’s backpack so huge?
Congratulations, you’ve just spotted a freshman. These small humans are not Pokémon, but they’re quite easily distinguishable. Three telltale signs are: the size of their backpack, the paper schedule and wide eyes of joy and wonder (wait until that term paper).
Resident senior and self-proclaimed freshman expert Sue Persenior ‘26 (previously ’25 and ’24) has a few foolproof tips to spot a freshman.
“I’ve had some experience finding freshmen,” Sue said. “Like any seasoned hunter, you have to start early when tracking them down… for your clubs. Just watch people moving to classes, and if they take out a paper schedule, you know it’s a freshman.”
Hemma Roll ‘26 is usually able to tell by the length of their skirts.
“Literally all you have to do is look at that hem line,” Hemma said. “If it’s past the knees, you know who it’ll be. These freshmen don’t know anything about skirt lengths.”
Hemma is a seasoned skirt connoisseur; however, some of her rolling efforts have landed her in trouble with the Deans.
“The freshmen are usually too new to get creative with the dress code,” Hemma replied to the backlash. “However, they’re even more susceptible to dress code mistakes.”
Wrong shoes, different hair, untucked shirts; in the first few weeks, you’ll see it all. But by the first month, our freshmen have usually settled into the Woodward Way. Still, the arrival of new freshmen and the departure of last year’s seniors is felt not only in the school environment, but also in the parking lot.
“This is the first time in months I’ve seen empty parking spots after 8:40,” Jessica Car ‘27 exclaimed.
Ay Pea ‘26 also notices the spirit freshmen bring to classes.
“They haven’t even taken their first AP class,” Ay said. “You can practically sense the restful nights and free time emanating from the freshman. Maybe I should recommend them for AP Bio… or APUSH.”
Every year, new freshmen enter Woodward, and while they can be easy to spot, their contribution to the school is hard to replicate. Leanna Peer ‘26 believes that freshmen are an important part of our Woodward community.
“Freshmen bring a lot to our school—new ideas, spirit, and wonder,” Leanna Peer said. “So when you get hit by their backpacks on the way to class, try not to crash out. Look past the crumpled schedules lying around, the dress code violations and the enviable class schedule, and you’ll see the freshmen are our future.”
