As Orono High School brings in new freshmen, there are many things to be considered. In general, freshmen have no clue what high school is like before arriving. So far at Orono, they seem to feel welcomed.

“My main concern was I would get lost,” said new freshmen Mia Doolittle. As some freshmen were more concerned, others had a more positive outlook on high school. Max Knight said, “Waking up on the first day of school I was excited to see my friends again and have a fresh start.”

As a incoming freshman in high school, it is important to be aware of keeping organized and having time management skills. Knight seems to understand this, “I have one inch binders with dividers for every class; it’s easy to keep my classes separated and keep track of homework.”

Upperclassmen from Orono say that for most freshmen the idea of starting strong is not fully understood. The most important tip for freshmen year is to try your hardest. If you slack from the beginning, you will most likely slack the whole way through.

Senior Ethan Heidorn is busy all the time; “I balance basketball, school, NHS, DECA, link crew, church leadership, work and my social life.” How does he have time for homework? The answer is simple, fit in homework whenever you can. Heidorn does his homework in study hall, long car rides, and a new addition to Orono High School, Spartan Hour.

College Board says “one of the main reasons homework is so hard is because students have trouble concentrating.”

Some easy tips that help concentration : turn off the TV, don’t play music, put cell phones away, and if on a computer, don’t be logged onto Face book or Twitter. Heidorn says, he cuts back homework time in half by turning off the TV and music.

Another important concept that needs to be understood from the very beginning is staying organized. Utilize your Orono Google account by using the Google Calendar. Make sure to have some sort of planner to keep track of your homework and any other extracurricular things. Also, make sure to have an organized work place to be able to sit down and do your homework.

Freshmen year is truly a time to clean your plate and start fresh. High school is when things really start to count. It isn’t just a time for fun and games. The way you act and deal with things in high school will impact the rest of your life. Staying organized and managing your time with thought and care are two simple things that will lead you down the road to success.

Madeline Hill is a Copy Editor for The Spartan Speaks