My Greatest Challenges In Middle School

The conversation then developed into him talking about his studies and his experiences as an architect. He made us introduce ourselves. I didn’t feel shy, for I had practiced this enough in my Speech class in the summer. After introducing myself, he gave me a mysterious look and stated that I was the first Early College student he had ever taught. I sat down feeling more relaxed and light, and the introductions continued. As many of the other classes, the first day was only of introduction and foreshadowing the works that would be present in the future. It was 6:50 p.m. and the class had ended. I picked up my backpack and pushed in my chair, but as I walked towards the exit, I looked at him but he was already looking at me and he smiled. I smiled back and opened the doors. As I walked back towards the cafeteria, I was reading the syllabus again, still examining the calming detail in it and reviewing the projects and tests. I entered the cafeteria and there were less than 5 students. I walked in the concrete sidewalk again and felt the autumn’s cold breeze hit my cheek. The sun was down but it’s warm and calming colors were still visible. The warm red-yellowish

To many freshman the first day of high school is the opening chapter of a new novel, a fresh start to a sometimes embarrassing middle school experience we would all just love to erase from our memories. August 13th, 2012 was the beginning of my four year long narrative at Cypress Bay High School. Despite my desperate desire to grow up, become an adult, and move far away from my parents for college all that did not seem possible because I had never previously attended a public school. I was struck with fear that I would not be able to adjust to the fast pace dynamics of a large high school.

I walked into the classroom to see all my new pupils, I was nervous at first but then Miss Maudie introduced me to the class and everything was fine. I wrote my name on the board and told them what it said and where I am from. The class just murmured back to me. I started the day by reading the children a story about cats, I think they liked it but then again some of them did seem immune to imaginative literature. After reading I went to the blackboard and printed the alphabet in large

On September 1, 2012, I walked into my fifth grade teacher’s classroom for the first time in my life. Mrs.Cullen was standing in the front of the door with open arms ready to welcome her new fifth grade students. As I made my way to my desk and sat down next to Charlie Schutt and Quin Timmerman, I got the feeling that middle school would be a time of talking to some of my best friends and cruising through classes. As the school year progressed, and classroom seats changed, my thought of how Middle school would be changed as well. On the first day Mrs.Cullen explained our schedule, Homework detentions, and demerits. After about fifty questions, she sent us off to our first class, and the first step of our Middle School journey. The fifth grade

I attended school regularly, associating myself with the same group of friends. Social statues were not yet established at such a young age, although there was one girl in my class named Shanese who nobody ever seemed to associate themselves with. She was new to the school; quiet, unobtrusive and she always seemed to have a melancholy attitude. Similarly to many other students in the class, I disregarded Shanese and continued with my normal activities until one day when I decided to pursue my curiosity about this discreet girl. It was time for recess, and I told my other friends to go to the swings without me. Instead of following them, I made an effort to introduce myself to Shanese and invite her to the see-saw with me. She agreed, with a seemingly uncertain response, most likely because nobody had ever approached her in such a way. As we silently made our way through the tire pellets to

When we were traveling to America we faced many difficulties, but once we made it to our Aunt's house in Virginia we knew it was going to be a great, yet grueling experience. When I first started going to school it seemed as if I was on another planet. Everyone looked different, spoke a strange language, and had a distinct mindset then me; the life of a kid should seem easy because there isn’t anything to worry about, yet worrying about everything was my coping mechanism. When I entered middle school depression and anger hit me like a freight train, so much to the point where I almost committed suicide. Fighting my so called friends for “fun” and not caring about my future was my life for those

I feel a warm presemce on the back of my neck. I turn and find the guy who came in late. He points to my seat, then himself. I shake my head and turn back. Again, he taps me and motion to my seat and then himself. I once again ignore him and return to my conversation with my brother. Before the guy can disturb me again the bell rings and the class starts to empty. I grab my bag and head towards the door.

Second period had just ended and you would see students walking out to the field. Taking it easy I approached the end of the ramp, I took a look around and I saw the many small cliques. I heard a faint voice call my name so I turned to see who it was. A teacher. She looked at me and signaled to come over. She had told me to talk to young girl who was by herself, just like me. I sat down next to her, we were both silent. I decided to break the ice and ask her a few questions and she asked some in return. We had some form of a conversation, and because of that we became friends. Best friends. I never knew that it was that easy, and soon after that our friendship circle became a lot bigger. I was able to laugh and smile just like how I saw the other students on the first day of school. I was able to come to school and enjoy it. When I was young I always thought that I would be attending Mira Mesa High School, I never had imagined graduating at High Tech High North County, until

I felt pins and needles running throughout my body as the Uber driver stopped in front of this small, dark house. It was Friday night and the JAC house invited me over for Shabbat dinner, I had no idea what to expect. I slowly made my way to the door, it was loud inside, there was a lot of people. After a few moments of standing there staring at the door, I final opened it. I quietly shuffled in, hoping no one would notice, when suddenly the rabbi said, “Emily you made it, come on in!”. Everyone turned around and stared at me. My temperature was rising and then suddenly I felt calm and safe. All the students rushed over to me and began introducing themselves. They were so welcoming and tried hard to make me as comfortable as possible. As dinner started, we all walked into the kitchen and poured water on our hands from a pitcher. The person in front of you poured the water on your hands and then you dried them on a dish rag. I knew of this tradition from one Jewish holiday but I did not know that Orthodox Jews performed this every Friday night. The washing of the hands before dinner is more than getting clean. You do not pour your own water because you are supposed to rest on Shabbat unless you are helping someone else, this is another reason the rabbi and his family do not turn on the sink, it is work. As dinner proceeded, a nice home cooked meal was served, just like the water, everyone passed the dishes and served the person next to them, never serving themselves, an act of kindness. While we were eating, the lovely meal, the rabbi went around and asked everyone to say something they want to improve on in the following week. Students stated they wanted to get good grades, or improve their eating habits. I had no idea what I was going to say. Finally, I spoke, “I want to improve the tone of voice I use with others.”, since I was the guest, I went last. The rabbi started a sermon based on what I said. A sermon is

I was walking through the halls of Niskayuna High School just as any other first semester junior would, stressed and in a hurry. I passed by my friend Natalia and despite my frantic canter to english, found the time to say hello. Oddly, she looked directly at me, but didn't say a word. Believing she didn't hear me, I thought nothing of it and continued my journey.

The other day, I was feeling extremely upset and stressed about graduate school and where I should consider going and what I needed to do to get there. All of these thoughts and worries were really starting to weigh me down. So, I decided to go visit someone very close to me to talk about what I was feeling, in hopes that maybe they could help calm me down. For the sake of confidentiality, all names have been changed. I went to Jennifer and began to tell her about all of the stress I had been feeling due to graduate school, and I told her about some of the big decisions I have to make in the near future. As I was talking to her, she was very attentive to what I was saying. She showed great attending skills by keeping eye contact, nodding her

She looked at me and we walked into the school. I walked down the hall trying to dodge people; people who I didn’t really like and people that don’t know. I just hate it when people try to talk to me. I get to my class and the teacher was writing stuff on the board. Students were filing into the room find their seats and sitting in their seats. Each student walked in all with blank stares and monotone movement each sitting down in their seats. The teacher turned and looked at me and said my name. Then, everyone started saying my name in unison and saying I was next. So I got up and left the classroom everyone in the halls were looking at me and telling that I was

Once I get to the office, I saw a beautiful girl I've never seen before and the principal sitting in the waiting room. I walk over to where they were sitting and take a seat near them.

The first year, the time to prove myself had arrived. Classes, rooms, teachers, and some students were unfamiliar. Eventually, minutes melted into hours, hours to days, and days to weeks. It didn’t take long before my schedule was routine, something of second nature. Humor and happiness were found in the form of my advisory family, where school was transformed into something more than going through the same motions of day to day activity. By the closing point of sixth grade, I was having a hard time letting go of what I’d adapted to. “What’s wrong?” my dad asked when I was getting into the car after being picked up early on the last day. I explained how distressed I was that my first year of middle school exceeded my expectations, and that it had to come to an end. Although his outlook viewed my reason for sorrow as trivial, I didn’t.

Finally, I could suppress my nervousness and after taking a deep breath I opened the door and quietly entered the classroom. It was dark and unwelcoming like on purpose adding more anxiety to my already unfavorable situation. There were two students sitting, one of them was in the very front seat right before the teacher 's seat with a notebook and a book on the desk ready for the class. For a moment he cast a quick glance at me, l guess expecting to see the instructor instead of me, he just looked at me very indifferently. The other student was in the very last seat plunged into his phone like if