Walking through the doors of FHN on the first day of freshman year, juniors Rachel Leimkuehler and Kasey Wagner had a few more nerves than perhaps the average freshman might because they were making the switch from private school.

“If I would have gone to private high school it would have been the same kids I went to private elementary school with,” Rachel said. “So being exposed to different people was cool, but it would have been nice to know some more people.”

They came from Immanuel Lutheran School, a private kindergarten through eighth grade school, so FHN was a change from the small school that they were used to. Their fear of getting lost was different due to the fact that they had never been in a school so big.

“I was nervous because I came from a small school of 470 to North, where my class is about 400,” Kasey said. “It’s a huge difference for someone new coming to the school.”

Not only was the size of the school a big change for Rachel and Kasey, but the lack of prayer before and after lunches, the addition of busses, and even what was taught in their classes was all different as well. Religion was a major part of their curriculum at Immanuel, and they started each day with a class dedicated to it. Their science classes were then also influenced by the school’s religious values.

“Science class was different because in private school they taught against evolution,” Kasey said.

Associate Principal Kathryn Greer went to private school and has experienced what both Leimkuehler and Wagner went through. Her junior and senior year of high school, she switched from Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School to Parkway Central.

“I wanted to switch because all of my friends in my swim team went there,” Kathryn said. “But it was definitely a change being a much larger school, but I don’t think it was any different than any other new student.”
Although it was an adjustment, Rachel feels that it was a good idea to switch schools, and is happy for the experience they had in private school.

“I wouldn’t change it [going to private school] because even though it would have been nice to know more people [here], I’ve made some really good friends, and had a really good experience,” Rachel said.

Even through the changes, both Rachel and Kasey were glad they switched. There may have been some major changes, but they figured it out, like all freshman have to do.

“No matter where a student comes from, freshman year is an adjustment, some harder than others,” Kasey said. “People are going to get lost, and friends are going to change. So whether you are from private, public or another state, you are all freshman.”