LASA’s freshmen are full of questions about what the next years of their education may entail. The Liberator asked a sample of freshmen for these questions and interviewed upperclassmen for their answers.

“Who is the best teacher you’ve ever had?” – Charlie Clare, freshman.

“The best teacher I’ve ever had at LASA is Herr Parks, the German teacher. He is a really great teacher overall because he always has fun activities for us to do and makes learning German really fun and enjoyable. Instead of having to do a bunch of online BLEND assignments, we actually get to play games and do projects that really allow us to practice speaking German and not just learning boring grammar.” – Emily Laux, junior.

“Does LASA get easier?” – Laurel Allard, freshman.

“Entering junior year at LASA, you’re offered a lot more freedom with your schedule because you don’t have to take classes like Plearth, Great Ideas, SciTech, and Ezine, so you really get a chance to explore other electives. I feel like the beginning of every year can start off rough because you’re getting used to new classes, new expectations, and new teaching styles, but it definitely smooths out throughout the year.

The phrase ‘LASA is hard’ has different implications for everyone because, come junior year, you aren’t taking as many of the same classes as your peers. If you’re someone who chooses to take a lot of APs, you’ll obviously have a lot more to juggle, but that’s not to say you won’t be able to do it. Different people can balance different things at once, so know your limits and don’t push yourself too hard, but also make sure you’re doing the things that you want to do in high school. 

I’d say that, eventually, LASA does get easier. Like all things, there will always be ups and downs, but you grow up with the same class of people for four years, so you end up supporting each other in all kinds of ways. You also get acquainted with some of the best teachers out there, so it’s safe to say that you won’t be alone when things do get tough.” – Dennis Montoya, senior.

“How did your life change when you became an upperclassman?” – Zoe Mayorga, freshman.

“Becoming an upperclassman was definitely scary at first. As an underclassman, you hear stories about AP exams, ACC, SATs, physics, and college apps, but you don’t realize what all of that entails until it’s your turn. I will admit, balancing classes and extracurriculars definitely felt overwhelming at times, but I’m here today and I can say that I’ve conquered a lot of those things. Except for physics, still working on that part.

Overall, becoming an upperclassman has changed my life for the better because I had two years of high school behind me which helped me realize what I enjoy, what works for me, and what I’m capable of. Also, driving is a cool thing that you might get to do, so you’ll experience a lot more freedom in that aspect.” – Dennis Montoya.