Reflecting on the Freshman Experience at Post Oak High School

Franz O’Hanna and Brandon Shin observing marine life they caught on Cat Island. (Photo: James Moudry)

For the first time this past August, Post Oak High School got something it never had before: four full grades of students! For the first time, we have freshman and seniors in the building. It was a new and exciting experience for everyone, teachers and students.

Though I was a part of the beginning class and have greeted many new students every year, this year felt a bit special. It felt as if I was the oldest child in a family that just acquired a newborn child. It was exciting to have some fresh faces in the school, as usual, but I felt like I had a duty to make sure that these kids were welcomed into the school. We didn’t want to overwhelm the freshman, but at the same time not be too distant. We knew that we weren’t going to be in the same classes as them, but we still felt like we needed to set an example not just for the fresh-man, but for the sophomores and juniors as well.

Students (from left) Jackson Culhane, Brayden Chavis and Matthew Watowich help bait some hooks on a sharking boat. (Photo: Kim Harrison)

Like every year, we went on our beginning of the year Odyssey trip, this time to Mississippi. We went to the same place as the seniors did in our freshman year, so it was very nostalgic to us. Instead of me reflecting on this Odyssey trip, I asked the freshmen if one of them would like to share their experience. My classmate, Brandon Shin, volunteered to reflect on his experience so far at Post Oak High School and the Odyssey Trip. 

Brandon had gone to Annunciation Orthodox School from elementary through middle school and decided he wanted to try a new school out, so he chose Post Oak High School.

“I expected for it to be like any other high school - none of the upper level classes would talk to me, I would have a hard time making friends, and I would overall be intimidated by everyone there and not socialize at all to anyone,” Brandon said. But, he shared that he loved the Odyssey trip and that it was great ice breaker and bonding experience with all the grades! Brandon, like many freshman, had a lot more fun than he expected to have.

“I had an exciting experience that most of my old friends don't have. When I look back on my first Odyssey Trip, I think to myself, I picked the right school to be in. I can't wait until next year.”