You Can do this!

Dr Seuss once said, “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter won’t mind.”

Your first days feel different. A new class, a new teacher, a new school. You’ll worry that you made a mistake by saying goodbye to your old friends, the life you knew. But then you start quickly making friends and everything changes, and you fit in. Suddenly one day you’ll wake up, and the thought of not going to school is utter flapdoodle.

And a new life begins.

It was like that for me. Every day, I come home from school at Neutral Bay with a new thing that has surprised us or stunned us all. Here it matters not who you are, for here you’re at the same level. Reflecting back on this year, a wave of memories washes over me. The first day, jokes told in Music class, homework, comprehension, library and band practice. One student being excited for a spelling test to start. Another singing softly from sheer happiness during a Maths test and a gazillion other memories I don’t have time to mention today.

There comes a time when your light shines above all others. That moment is now. I feel you should make the most of this opportunity you’re given because you may never have this again. Moments like this comes along once in a blue moon.

You are special.

I can understand that you might be feeling nervous. I can understand that you may be feeling overwhelmed. I can understand that you might be feeling like a stranger. I can understand that.

I remember on my first day, when I walked through those gates, I was scared. This was a foreign place. I did not know what these new people would be like, or whether I would enjoy the new school. But I can tell you right now: Neutral Bay is the best school I have ever been to. It’s a school like no other.

For one thing, our teacher is fabulous—challenging, calm and creative. I have had so much fun in her class, it’s hard to believe that I am actually there. All of the other children are welcoming and kind. In my class alone, there are two brilliant authors, three Maths whizzes and almost everything else you could wish for in an OC class.

Not to mention the other extra-curricular activities. Depending on your interests, you can play in our school band, sing in the choir,or join our celebrated chess program. Our Science teacher is absolutely hilarious, and library has gone in one year from an ‘Oh-why-do-we-have- to-do-this experience’ to a ‘Yes! We’re-doing-library experience’. This is, without a doubt, the best school in Sydney. (For me.)

I remember my OC Orientation like it was yesterday. I sat towards the back of the hall, hoping no one would identify me. I clutched my black Middle Harbour stockings and stared at the array of unfamiliar uniforms. Being the only girl coming from my old school, I thought I would struggle to find friends. Boy, was I wrong!

All my fears and worries were put to rest when I saw the OC students were each given an iPad! I saw the great facilities the school had. I saw the fun extra curriculum groups offered to children of all ages, including dance, drama, Glee and computer programming. (Just to name a few.) Not only are Maths, English, writing and History taught in a way that leaves you thinking, “Wow, I seriously just did that!”, there are endless possibilities for social and competitive sport teams. I left the orientation with a bubbling feeling of joy spreading through my body. I knew I was now a Neutral Bay girl.

While some of you are familiar with what makes an OC classroom different from mainstream, many of you are not. In a mainstream class, everyone is at different levels in terms of ability. In OC, everyone is pretty much the same. That means no more waiting for everyone else to finish the test. No more standing up 15 minutes before anyone else stands up.

Don’t worry! OC is not all work, work, work! Dance, Drama, Glee Club, Choir and School Spectacular are all great examples of fun activities we do.

When making the move, my main worry was that I wouldn’t find friends. I thought I’d either play with the Year 6 OC students or by myself with a book. But with 12 other girls in my class, I had 12 more friends than I ever had at my old school. You see, in mainstream I would stand out as someone different. Here, I’m treated as if I’m normal and not a freak of nature! And if having 29 other students in a class isn’t enough, the school has over 900 students! Academic and sporting teams provide a great opportunity for children looking to find other children with the same interests and hobbies as them. For example, if you are destined for Broadway, Neutral Bay is right up your alley. There is a club for the sporty and musically inclined, for dancers or singers... The list goes on!

I know now why OC is the Opportunity Class; we are offered the opportunity to share a class with 29 other children who share the same hobbies and interests as we do. Now I’ve experienced OC, I don’t know how I would have coped at my old school. I was once asked about the best decision I’d ever made. In less than a nanosecond I had responded with two letters: ‘OC’.

To all of you starting OC, you may feel scared now, but trust me. Coming here will be the best decision of your life. Although it might seem scary, although you might be afraid, OC isn’t as scary as people make it out to be. It might seem frightening at first, but that’s not what OC is really like. If I could go back to my OC Orientation, I would tell myself: ‘It’s okay, Olivia. Everything will always work out.