Onward!

Decision Made

Usually, I’m the kind of person who likes staying in her own comfort zone. I prefer to stay in my lane as long as possible. Sticking to what I know, changing only if necessary.

But, that day, I made my choice of moving out of my comfort zone. I made the choice to move into a bigger and supposedly scarier world. I made the choice to move from my small Catholic school to a much bigger public school.

I told myself it was time for some change in my small, hidden life. I wanted to get to know more people, learn new topics, and most of all, explore what was in store for me. So, I told my parents, “Mom, Dad I have decided I want to go to public school.” My parents, being the supportive parents they are, almost immediately registered for Sampson G. Smith and in an instant, it was settled, I’m going to Sampson G. Smith next year. I’m going to public school.

Word Spreads

Quickly, word spreads from person to person, “Abby’s going to public school next year!” I didn’t necessarily want every single person in my grade to know my business, but I guess that’s what you get for going to a Catholic school where literally everyone knows your greatest, deepest secrets. It’s mainly because we all grew up with each other starting from either pre-k, kindergarten, or first grade, or just because people are nosy. Either way, by the time of April, nearly everyone in my small 7th grade knew where I was headed next year.

Last Day

I left school a week before school officially ended because I was attending the Duke Talent Identification Program that summer. This information spread quickly to every single person in my grade, including the teachers. They all wished me good luck, hoping I will accomplish whatever it is I strive to do in the future. I almost started tearing up, but I remembered telling myself that day I wouldn’t cry. At least, not in school.

I entered religion class, and as usual, everyone completed their ‘Do Now’. We did morning prayer and then my teacher shifted her attention to me. I shrunk in my chair, hoping she wasn’t going to do what I thought she was going to do. She told the class in her cheery, energetic voice, “Boys and girls, today, as you all know is Abby’s last day.” Everyone turned their heads towards me as I smiled faintly and shrunk in my chair even more. She continued on, “I would like her to come to the front of the class and explain why it is she decided to change schools. Then, I would like all of you to tell her why you will all miss her no matter how uncomfortable it makes her.” She smiled at me and partly reluctant and partly nervous/happy/scared/a bunch of other emotions, I walked to center stage.

I took a deep breath and smiled at everyone awkwardly. Then, I did as instructed. I told my class how much I would miss them, but why I also decided to leave. I stated how in a Catholic school we are all so sheltered and I wanted to see and discover what was out there for me in the world. After I was finished, my teacher commented a bit on my statement, and then with a smile, she let the herd loose and all my friends started throwing emotional statements at me. By the time my best friend had commented two times, I started to cry just a little bit. My teacher gave me a tissue and then I cried, even more, when she gave me a card my class had made for me as a surprise.

That day everyone said their goodbyes to me. Even the boy who I didn’t talk to much. I got home from the bus stop and started crying again, realizing just how lucky I was to have people who actually care for me.

Sampson G. Smith, Here I Come!

Summer passed and it was the first day of school. I was nervous, mainly because it was a new school but also because of the excitement that filled up my stomach.

My dad insisted he drove me to the bus stop. I tried to object but decided not to just for the sake of time. We got to the bus stop and waited for a good five to ten minutes for the bus to arrive. While my dad chatted away about the excitement of what was to come for me, I took in my surroundings realizing how many more kids there were at my bus stop compared to when I was going to a Catholic school.

At last, the bus arrived and a flood of kids boarded the bus with me. Many of the seats were filled already and I worried I might have to sit on the floor. I continued to move towards the back of the bus as I felt the eyes of the other passengers follow me as I moved along. I decided to make the worst decision of sitting in the back, for the bus ride was very chaotic and noisy.

When the bus finally arrived at school, I hopped off the bus and followed the noisy crowd through the back entrance of the school. While searching for my homeroom, I spotted the back of two noticeable heads. I walked up to them realizing they were my Godmother’s sons. I said a quick ‘hello’ to each one and then hurried off to class.

The next few hours were as expected. As I moved from class to class I met my new teachers who spent hours going over introductions, class rules, and fun games the class played as a whole. What made the classes a little more fun were the new friends I made. Many of them were friends of friends I already knew when I came to SGS, but a lot of them were strangers at first who eventually became some of the closest people to me.

Realization

As my journey continued in SGS, I continued to have the time of my life and overcame many obstacles that came my way with my new friends. But, I started to realize even after the adventure and fun I have had, I still felt as if the community around me was so foreign compared to what I knew. I felt in a way I didn’t fit in environmentally.

So, my parents started having me apply to different private schools. I started going to interviews and writing application essays after application essays. I prepared for the SSAT. Eventually, I got accepted to four out of the six private schools I have applied for. When it came to my choice of where I wanted to go next, I was a bit torn. There were so many options, but I felt going back to Catholic school was what I was called to do. So, I made my decision to accept Notre Dame High School’s offer as being their student next year.

A Series of Unfortunate Events

Moving into 2020, it became clear the new year will have some unexpected twists and turns globally. Apparently a joke of our President starting the next World War III became a trend for a while. Australia was suffering from dangerous wildfires, Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and a group of other people died in a helicopter crash, and now we are in the middle of a ginormous pandemic.

Schools started closing everywhere and so did SGS. It was official, I was quarantined with nothing to do except the assignments from my teachers, practicing for my next violin audition, and rummaging through my brain for problems, quizzes, and puzzles to solve. But, quickly I realized I had a lot of free time on my hands so over the course of time I became more and more productive.

Onward!

It occurred to me I went to Sampson G. Smith for only about six and a half months. I guess I would say to myself in the future, my eighth-grade year was a complete, out of control roller coaster. The events hurled at my world this year have exposed me to a whole new perspective. Now, I’m a bit stronger, a bit wiser, and a bit more adventurous compared to my past years. All I have to do is wait for the untold events of the future to unfold and move onward into the unknown!