We’ve all experienced it: stepping into this school for the very first time. For some, it was years ago, but for others it was just a couple weeks ago. We’ve all experienced that hectic scramble to get to class, socializing with kids that came from middle schools you’ve never heard of, and the feeling that your backpack is ten times too heavy. We’ve all experienced the first day of freshman year.

But the 2025-2026 school year is a little bit different than the others. For starters, the Class of ‘29 is the first to receive school-managed laptops. With students coming from all over the region, experience with technology varies. For example, students from Chesterfield or Henrico may be more familiar with the concept of school-issued devices, since many middle schools there introduced school laptops in the past. But that doesn’t necessarily mean everyone feels the same about it. Let’s look at a few freshies’ opinions on the topic:

“I think the laptops are pretty good, but they’re heavy and hard to carry,” says Saanvi Mandalapu (‘29). “They have good features and they’re sturdy. I don’t love how I have to purposefully shut them down every time though.”

Aaradhya Shetty (‘29) has a similar take. He shares that he’d rather not have school issued laptops, but that they’re “pretty good compared to those of other schools.” 

Abbos Yusupov (‘29) agrees as well. He states, “I mean, they're better than the middle school ones, but I’d rather have my personal laptop.”

Some freshmen, like Eleanor Sitkiewicz (‘29) and Georgia Bruns (‘29), are a bit more critical of the computers. “Get rid of them. I hate them!” Eleanor jokes. “Some people may like them, but they blocked Roblox and I can’t deal with that.” That’s pretty relatable. School can be quite unbearable if 99 Nights in the Forest isn’t there to help us.

Georgia Bruns (‘29) remarks that for some, the addition of school-issued devices can be a bit of a letdown. “I know a girl whose mom bought her a Macbook just because she got into Maggie Walker, but now, she can’t even use it.”

Maggie Walker is certainly a change for many students. Not only do freshmen grapple with the challenges of navigating high school, but they must also adjust to the environment of MLWGS. When asked about how their first few weeks went, here’s how several students replied:

Vihaan Shirodkar (‘29), a Henrico County resident, describes Maggie Walker as “nothing but fun and amazing.” When asked if he’d choose his home school given another chance to decide, he says that he’d rather go to Maggie because he’d met amazing people in his first couple of weeks. 

Chesterfield County resident Eva Robinson (‘29) recounts the many tests and quizzes that she has already received. She notes that the upperclassmen told her to expect “below-average grades.” However, according to Eva, she hasn’t been receiving grades that are “low.” Additionally, upon inquiry, she says that everyone’s energy levels have died down. She not only accredited this energy loss to school work but also to established friend groups.

Nonetheless, the great thing about MLWGS is that it offers a remarkable experience that’d be difficult to find at any other school. With people coming from all over the Greater Richmond area, this school creates a community like no other. Eleanor Sitkiewicz (‘29) notes that Maggie offers many sports, such as cross country and volleyball, along with a wide range of clubs and academics. She enjoys the close-knit community as well.

We think it’s acceptable to conclude that the first few weeks have been a success for the Class of 2029. But whether that’ll stay the same or change is a question that is yet to be answered. Only time will tell. Let’s wish the baby Dragons good luck.