High school is decent. The first year as an underclassman isn’t terrible. Though I’m in a small Wisconsin town, Spring River High School seems so big compared to middle school. I feel so small among all the super big upperclassmen and teachers. I actually love all my teachers. Unfortunately I have zero friends in my classes. How do they expect us to make new friends and have high school be so much fun? I’m separated from all my frosh friends much of the day. My geometry class is 85% sophmores! Most of the “sophs” wonder what a swimming frosh is doing in their class. I’m still trying, though some of the upperclassmen find it tough and embarrassing to hang with a frosh.

Slowly I’m learning to find my way around and “deal” with high school. That is, I’m growing into high school classes, teachers, administrators, Spring River customs and MYSELF. The high school is beginning to appear somewhat smaller as our great freshman class adapts. Presently I’m also working on an independent study project analyzing high school sports deserving of PE credit. I initiated a letter to the state superintendent, and I have a PowerPoint presentation along with surveys indicating strong support. Who wants to attend gym class when you are already competing in varsity and club sports? High school physical education is an absolute waste at Spring River. It is terribly boring! There is no training or real skill required. One just shows up and behaves for credit! Hopefully I can gather some momentum for eliminating high school PE for students that participate in a sport already, but still retain PE class credit.
I also play viola in our high school orchestra. Friday was our big performance at the Phillips, a performing center in downtown Spring River. We played Christmas music for candlelight strollers. It was so cool, considering the Phillips was astonishingly “decked out” with wonderful Christmas displays and attractions. And the after party was even better! After the concert, the orchestra returned to the school from 9–12 and watched “Rush Hour”–a very cheesy action film.

This week has been a pretty normal week in Spring River, Wisconsin. There is a good 5 inches of snow on the ground and nothing (I mean nothing) to do at all. I’m past the age of sledding despite what my parents think. Apart from swimming, I am busy studying for a tough English class and steadily keeping up with other homework. Thank goodness for weekends! I don’t know what I’d do without them. Time for bed since swim practice requires an early rise for swimmers on a cold snowy Spring River morning.

Jenn Smithson
Spring River Swim TEAM