In the beginning of this school year, I went to a whole new school. I had been living in Indiana with my mother at the time, so I was enrolled into George Rodgers Clark High School. The school was completely different than Truman High School in Levittown, Pennsylvania. For starters, the school had grades six through twelve in it, and it was a whole new experience for me because only 17% of the school population was white. Everybody treated me so differently for not speaking Spanish or not being Mexican. They acted as if I had come from a completely different country, when in reality I had come from just two states over.

Their classes were different too.  They did everything backwards compared to Truman. Here, we have Biology then Chemistry, but they have Chemistry then Biology. Here, we have Algebra 1, Algebra 2 and then Geometry. They have Algebra 1, Geometry and then Algebra 2. So, because I went to Truman for freshman and sophomore year, I was in classes with a bunch of sophomores, while I was a junior. Everyone looked at me as if I was stupid. They thought I had failed my classes and that’s why I was in sophomore classes. Nobody believed me when I told them my school did things differently.

I went into that school thinking that change was a good thing, that it would be good for me, but after only an hour of being in that school, I regretted it completely. By the end of the first day, I was a wreck. I was confused as to how to navigate around the building, causing me to get lost and be late to every class. I knew nothing as to where I was in the school most of the time. Three floors, six grades, and too many classrooms to count. No matter where I turned I felt like everybody gave me strange looks. I was an outcast on my first day there, and I hated it. I was only able to enjoy my lunch period, because their cafeteria had tables that only sat two people. So I chose one of those tables and sat by myself and read. But, I was of course still getting stared at. It was as if they weren’t used to getting new students. Then again maybe they weren’t. Or, maybe they are just so used to being around the same people for six years, that getting a new student was extremely odd. That would mean that a new girl would cause a social stir in how everything went. I mean I understand some people get curious when there’s a new student, but this was an entire school I’m talking about.  And unfortunately, none of them seemed very welcoming.

Maybe that’s just me being paranoid, or maybe it’s the truth.  I honestly feel like if I had stayed in that school, I would’ve had a terrible time and most likely would’ve been labeled as the loner of the school, which is definitely not something I’d enjoy. But at the same time, I probably didn’t help myself in being a loner. I hadn’t exactly made myself out to be the friendliest person.

At the end of the first day I was just trying to leave school, and the hallway became crowded. Some girl was just standing there not moving when she knows people are trying to get around her and were failing. So, I asked her if she could please move, but she just gave me a dirty look, smirked, and then went back to talking to her friend, without moving out of the way. I noticed a place next to her friend, in front of the lockers that she could’ve been standing the entire time, out of everybody else’s way. So, I again asked her nicely to move out of the way so I could continue on my way down the hallway and out of the school. She again just looked at me and continued on with her conversation. Now, I’m not the most patient person around, so I got annoyed. I shoved her into the empty spot next to her friend, a little rougher than I should have. I was aggravated, but she also deserved it in a way.

I realize that in the little time that I was in that school, most of my problems could have been caused because I didn’t seem like the nicest person. Who would want to be friends with the new girl who pushed someone on the first day? They must not have seen that I am a nice person; I just lose my patience way too quickly. Maybe this experience can help me to better myself; it can teach me that I need to not let anger and aggravation get the best of me. Overall, this experience has taught me that being in a new place is rough, that getting through it is the challenge. But, being kind and patient are the key to successfully overcoming the obstacles and challenges that I might face.