The return to school is, for all, a momentous occasion, though not always joyous. It is the time for first impressions of new teachers, classes, and classmates. Some of us can handle the transition back to school better than others. However, the incoming first formers are typically both the most excited and the most nervous for the start of school. For the students in Form I, (unless they have older siblings), everything is unknown, uncertain, and even daunting because they have no idea what the teachers, classes, or their classmates will be like. For them, Cistercian is new, and they do not know what is around the next corner. But like the class of 2032, we’ve all been there for that first exciting and sometimes intimidating first week.
In the words of first former Trung Duong, “It’s spacious, and having breaks between classes make everything easier.” This freedom of having a five-minute break between each class, as well as the ten-minute break in the morning, is one of the most recurring praises that new Cistercian students bring up. As Nathan Kim, another first former, said, “The break between classes is a freedom.” The pace and expectations of Cistercian are high, and even something as simple as a short break can balance that out.
However, the most important part of a school is, of course, the classes. All new students will be most concerned about them because they have no idea what said classes will be like. The most common worry, of course, is how difficult the classes will be. The first formers of 2024 have varied opinions on the difficulty of their classes. Wesley Johnston thought that they would be “harder than they are,” whilst Nathan considers them to be just as difficult as he expected. Though First Form does indeed present the easiest classes, the challenge quickly escalates in later years. As a fourth former, I have experienced every class that the first formers have, and can therefore wish you all good luck—because in the upcoming years, you’re going to need it.
Teachers are, of course, just as important as the classes they teach. As such, it is natural to have a favourite. Nathan says that his favourite is Mr Parker, and though I have personally not been taught by him yet, he has an excellent reputation as a good teacher, tying his passion for science with his undying love for Pearl Jam. Personally, my favourite teacher in First Form was either Dr Pruit or Fr Anthony, but every new class will discover their own personal favorites, and, like me, have many fond memories of those classes. Of course, there are also the First Form projects, and most of them were fun, though some more so than others. Every kid remembers his Bridge Project for better or worse. My favourite one out of the many, though, was the mask project for Latin, though that might be entirely due to my biased opinion that Latin is one of the best classes.
So far, the initial impressions of the first formers, halfway through their first quarter, are quite positive. Tres Hill acknowledges the difficulty, saying “It’s hard,” but also the aid given to students, adding that it’s also “supportive.” He calls Cistercian “a nice experience.” Thomas Nava appreciates “the free time,” and also says, “I like that the library is so close.” As the First Formers and all of us start to find our routines this school year, it is important to remember no one knows what the rest of the year may hold. Despite the uncertainties, I wish the Class of 2032 a good year and many good years after that.