Loud voices echo as the doors open at 7:30. Footsteps flood the lobby as feelings of discomfort and uncertainty fill the atmosphere. This is the first time freshman Abigail Mwita enters the school as an official Bellevue East High School student. For others like junior Liam Dworak, he will be entering the school as a transfer student.
On August 8, 2025, new students like Dworak and Mwita learned to adjust to Bellevue East High School. The first day of school is reserved for new students only, meaning returning Bellevue East students don’t attend school until the day after.
“I was a little nervous,” Mwita said. “I didn’t really know what to expect, but I guess I was really nervous for no reason because everything so far has been great.”
Mwita said the building immediately felt huge to her. Coming from Lewis and Clark Middle School, the change is striking. After freshman orientation, she’s suddenly walking the halls alongside the upperclassmen.
“It was definitely a lot bigger and it was kind of hard to get to my classes,” Mwita said. “It was a little overwhelming, because there were a lot of kids. At the time I didn’t know anyone and overall the whole day felt kind of crazy.”
For Dworak, the transition has been smoother. He transferred from Bellevue West, East’s rival school, in hopes of finding more opportunities in the sport he loves. Through prior connections, he was able to meet friends and get involved at East early on.
“I decided to transfer to East because of baseball, and I just thought the baseball program was really good,” Dworak said. “It wasn’t just that though, me and my family thought it was time for a change. Right now I play football and I enjoy it. Everybody picks each other up. No one talks any crap about each other. Everyone’s just a team, like a family. You know, East is pretty much the same, I just had to get used to new people.”
According to Newport Academy’s website, teens transitioning from middle school to high school often face a major shift in academics, but communication and involvement can help ease the process. Mwita encountered these academic challenges during her first days at East, but eventually she found that getting involved supported her adjustment.
“After a while you start to realize that you are more responsible for yourself,” Mwita said. “Academically, the work is harder, but it’s more of just staying on top of work….As far as involvement, I’ve been involved in cheer and it’s going great. I like it, it’s fun. It’s a lot of work, but it’s rewarding….Eventually I would like to join DECA or Christian Athletes club.”
Being a transfer student can come with its struggles too. Dworak is ultimately happy about the move, but thoughts of his friends are still prominent. According to unishanioi.org, transfer students mostly have to adjust to new social structures and relations within the school.
“I like East, I miss some of my friends at West, but I have a good amount of friends here,” Dworak said. “I found a group of people that I like a lot. I’m fortunate to have people that I know since I came from a different school.”
East freshmen and transfer students have officially been welcomed into the school. Freshmen looking for support can connect with their counselor, Sarah Strawn, by using the QR codes posted around the building. Transfer students can also find their assigned counselor this way, organized by last name. Strawn has tips to help students adjust.
“For transfer students and freshmen, my ultimate advice is to join as many things as possible,” Strawn said. “Get involved. If you like it, stay. If not, who cares? What I notice is the more involved they are, the better they’re doing in grades, the more friends they have, the more they don’t stress. Find your people and have a great school year.”
