Raph Vogt

Nearing the end of fifth grade, I was worried due to my lack of knowing and actually integrating with virtually any of the people I had just met. I did not really hang out with others besides in class. When going into sixth grade, despite being worried, I became more connected to some of the people I was starting to become friends with. It was also the second most new socializing I had done. Some of my memories are switching classes due to my teacher not teaching the specific subject anymore. 

Most of sixth grade was not very memorable, however, I did make more friends. I also started going out with friends, since I had money, but not much, I was almost always completely broke and this kept up well into seventh grade when I started attempting to save. Coming into seventh grade I felt more confident, however, it was what I consider to be like a second act low point. My best friend left the school, so I wasn't able to see them. I felt more and more unstable. I switched to the  current main friend group I was in, however, I also met most people, letting me branch out and see numerous different kinds of people. Some things that made me hate seventh grade the most was I wasn’t close enough to the new friend group I came to, and I didn’t think I should go to the other friend group. I started track, doing fine at points, mediocre at some, but I at least met more people. During the summer after seventh grade, I decided I would attempt to do something with my life. My uncle said I’d get paid 100 dollars every other week, this did not happen, but I still made money. Eighth grade rolls around, I completely integrate in the friend group I went into the year previously. I’ve come to think that this year has been the most eventful year of my life. I have found more closure in being around people, I have grown more social and begun being around others. It’s heavily impacted me from getting a lot more social in a short amount of time and having to deal with the mental strain that's come with age. 

I feel less scared going into high school than I did middle school, since I already know people in high school. I hope I can continue to do band and track. Both of those activities have helped me meet lots of new people, and I am grateful for being able to meet people at this school.