High school is the grand transition from middle school to the closest thing before taxes. These “most important” years of someone’s life start now, with them soon selecting and browsing what extracurriculars will consist of their first year of high school. Will they choose track and field or publication? Academic Decathlon or theater? Only time will tell.
As the rising freshmen walk into the quad, the excitement is already building. The band is preparing to play, and the publication team is buzzing with energy. We are all adjusting and ensuring all the magazines are placed meticulously in order. Mikey the Mustang, our beloved mascot, proudly prances around the quad as the music picks up, excited to meet all the new Mustangs.
Laughter rings in the air; it’s a great day to be a Mustang. At 5:20, 8th graders pour into the quad, and most rush to the sports booths. Some approached the Newspaper table nervously, apprehensive about their future classes. Our staff is hard at work meeting people, passing out our previous magazine, and interviewing incoming freshmen to encourage them to join our publication family.
Many parents approach, asking about the yearbook team and what it’s like to be part of the Wrangler–our processes, pitches, and approaches. They ask about the freedom we have to write, the types of topics we cover, and our publications. While some come by for the mouth-watering taffy, others are excited to join after just one conversation. There is a sense in the air that comes with finding a calling—a newfound family.
At 5:45, the band is just beginning to play, and our stand is buzzing with people. The energy is electric–students and parents are flipping through our past magazine, filled with wondrous pictures, beautifully written articles, and plenty of blood, sweat, and perhaps a couple of tears as we explain our program and all we offer. At the same time, our publication neighbors Vid-pro (video productions) and the yearbook crew are also busy. Elizabeth Horner (9), representing Yearbook, thinks that the 8th-grade roundup is “pretty cool, and I am enjoying meeting the new 8th graders and talking people into joining my favorite club: yearbook.” Over to our left, Skylar Snydar (11) represents Vid-pro, and she states that Vid-pro is “doing so good, we are talking with people, getting people to join, very nice.” Publications at Yorba Linda High School are the place to be!
By 6:00, it is time to pack up our belongings. The rising freshmen are off to their first pep rally, as they take on the journey of high school as Mustangs. One thing is sure: they have taken their first trot into an unforgettable high school. Welcome to the stampede.
