Hey Corey,
Good luck tomorrow!! I'm a Junior now, but remember Freshman year (I joined Applianceville in the 2nd semester of that year...March 2004), and it was interesting to say the least. Since I'm in a small town with around 3700 people, we came to Bellville High School as one whole group...I'm not sure how it works there since your school description leads me to believe it's pretty big. High school will definitely be better than junior high, although I must admit 8th grade was a pretty fun year for me! As a 9th grader, you'll probably have a heavy workload, especially in the beginning...I know I did!!! Studying is definitely important like Toggle said...10th grade is also a heavy workload, but by the time 11th rolls around it's a little more "relaxed", IMHO, and you get more time off (every Tuesday & Thursday I can leave during 2nd period...Dual-Credit courses are only M-W-F). And if a certain teacher's a b***h and you just don't get along with him/her, just let the guidance counselor know so you can possibly get out of that class and switch to a different teacher! Yes, it's happened to me before, thankfully only once, and most of my classmates who had her thought the exact same thing (yes, we do gossip) and wished they could have done what I did at the time!
The cafeteria food here is not that great (I usually buy from the snack bar) except for certain meals which are good. This year, they took out the snack/drink machines, but we have two in the auto shop (my 3rd & 4th period classes this year are Auto Mechanics). Thank God for Off-Campus Lunch...hopefully they do that at your school! I wouldn't worry about hot junior & senior girls chanting "JOIN THE PEP CLUB!" either...LOL. I know everyone here, but even the larger schools didn't have that kind of "recruiting" last time I checked.
And unless your friends already know, I would do as Tom said and keep the appliance discussion to a minimum. In 8th grade I was out with my vacuum obsession in full technical detail, and most people thought it was a little out-of-the-ordinary (especially after I explained the function of the two-speed motor on the early Hoover Convertibles) but that was it. I've been a little bit quieter with my washer obsession, however, but have had the same reaction as with the vacuums..."WHOA...AUSTIN, YOU ACTUALLY COLLECT WASHING MACHINES?" Now it's not that big of a deal...I wore my Convention shirt once the week before last and not very many noticed! Some did ask what that was about...and of course it was fun explaining it! One of my friends, a Varsity Brahmanette (and MVP too!

that's BHS's volleyball team for those who don't know) knows what I'm talking about when I refer to my Unimatic or 1-18. She's probably the only one who doesn't seem to get bored quickly by my monotonous ranting about the Frigidaire pulsator...LOL. All things considered, I'm with the "normal" crowd and have somewhat of a social life, and y'all would have a hard time picking me out from everybody else. In fact, like I said earlier, most don't know I'm even a "Washerboy"!!
So don't be too worried about your first day of HS. Take it in stride, and try not to let it go by too fast...I lost my Freshman and Sophomore years that way...just too quick!!! The bottom line is to HAVE FUN!
Otra vez,
buena suerte en tu primero dia de escuela secundaria!
GO BELLVILLE AND GO 'NETTES!
--Austin