Freshman year is a year of firsts. First high school experience, first block schedule, and your first set of unwritten rules. These rules and regulations have been passed down since Cal High ’s founding in 1973.

Freshman, you get the unparalleled 3rd floor. Its roomy hallways allow for unlimited comfort and lockers are available as far as you can see. It is an amazing location. Keys to the building and the alarm code can be given to you by upperclassmen if you would like to come to school at 2 am. Of course this will book you a three-day vacation from school, and walking at graduation might not be in your future.

While traveling this vast campus, make sure you savor the passing period time to survey the other two floors. It is the only time that it is acceptable, as you have an excuse to be there. The right side of the first floor is usually empty, so walking through to get to a class is never an issue. You are most definitely not going to be knocked into a wall by a mass of seniors.

There is certain etiquette required when talking to an upperclassmen as well. Eye contact is important, as it is a sign of respect. It is good to develop relationships with seniors, so hang out with them whenever you can.

Our next stop, the commons! It provides delicious food for all to enjoy. The some-what chicken nuggets are edible, the pizza may or may not be cardboard, and the burritos have real beans! (Not really.)

The commons is the best place for freshmen. The seating is abundant, and the seniors are happy to share a table with you. Bring all your friends!

The quad is a great place to have lunch as well. It even includes seasonal decor, such as the toilet paper trees in early June or even events such as impromptu rap battles. Parades happen occasionally, such as concerned students yelling about stopping a fight. You even have front row seats to the amazing activities that leadership has on the stage.

There is another great amenity high school has – tutorial! You may find an increased workload in comparison to last year. Tutorial is a great time to do all the homework from the previous two nights. It seems irresponsible, but it is obviously the best way to complete work on time, and is not procrastinating in any way. School isn’t just about schoolwork either. Social events are just as important.

The largest social events are the freshman football games. Our freshman team is undefeated, and deserves the support of the whole school. Make sure you are at their games.

These first time experiences may seem threatening at first, but don’t worry. This advice is as reliable as Cal’s bell schedule.