The Dreadful Audition: Bauxite High School

It was mid-morning when I pulled up to school, still wondering if I made the right decision by enrolling. Instead of feeling calm, cool, and collected the only thing arriving early did was increase the feeling of impending doom. My mind was racing a mile a minute. Am I going to be able keep up to the bright minds fresh out of high school? It was time to find out.

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.

After doing exceptionally well in my district-level audition, I had the opportunity to continue to try out for the state level. Now, throughout the first audition, I had the help of a few people. Of course my middle school band director, Mr. Carter, had helped me on this treacherous road; however, a man named Andrew Bennett had also decided to chance with me.

Finally, I am finished with middle school. Anxiously thinking about the first day of high school, I knew that it would be hectic and wild, but I was ecstatic. Of course, the night before I could not sleep. I lay awake dreaming about how my first day at John Paul II will go. How will it be meeting new people and seeing old friends from last year? Will high school be hard? Will I get lost? I kept thinking about the unknown and worst possible outcomes. My first day of high school was unexpected.

This bridge, fully enclosed in glass, leads the way into Creeden Hall, while also providing a view of the campus surrounding it. Creeden, the main high school building, feels like a busy street each school day. The immensely wide hallways are like highways for students zipping from class to class. Aluminum-lined whiteboards are mounted next to each door, all uniquely designed for the class that takes place in that room. The locker section in the morning like a busy city corner. While walking down the eternal-seeming spiral staircase, I see in the center of the room a pendulum slowly rocking back and fourth over a compass. Its brassy finish starting to wear off after all the years, and yet it still seems like new. The motion of the pendulum is constant, almost as if to symbolize the constant enriching of the students' minds, and the never ending sense of community and tradition which exists at the Severn School. At the end of the day, as I walk outside, I'm met by the gentle autumn breeze, bringing a sense of freedom and joy, after a hard working day at school. Located off of Evergreen Road, in Olde Severna Park, Maryland, there is a noticeable excitement, and passion for learning, in the

Fear. As I walked into the huge, unfamiliar building of Gibson Southern High School on my first day of freshmen year, I shook with terror. New teachers, new people, new classes, and a new environment that I yearned to explore, but anxiety filled my body. I had previously attended Haubstadt Community School, where I finally felt comfortable and now everything seemed frightening and different. Although my body told me not to, I forced myself to push through the day with a positive attitude. After all, this would be my home for the next four years.

Today is the first day that I set foot into Central High School, one of the most prestigious high schools in Philadelphia. The blood rushes through my veins as I allow that fact to sink in. I climb up the steep hill, focused solely on trying to make my way to the deep red doors as other students, one by one, join their respective social groups.

There I stood a short, chubby eleven year old boy ready to take on the world of professional theatre. Looking back now I realize that I had no clue what I was getting myself into, but at the time I thought of myself as “Broadway Ready.” As I wandered through the densely packed hallways I would brush past all of the equity actors, they would smile at me or make comments such as

As any other freshman entering high school it can be a very nerve racking situation. On September 8, 2015 I Chelsea Gonzalez was entering high school in Thurgood Academy Of Learning And Social Change , my mind was going crazy and I didn't know what to expect. I have always asked myself whether high school would be similar to what appeared in movies; people dancing and singing on top of the lunch tables or, was it going to be a 4 horrible school years in which I would never make friends. I clearly remember seeing kids running toward their group of friends, as I walked down the lunchroom. My hands were sweating and it felt like a million butterflies in my stomach. The room was filled with cries of laughter, kids running back and forth asking each

On a cold sunny day in January 2016, I enrolled in Dierks High School as a seventh grader.I had many questions about meeting new teachers, classmates, and other staff. For me this was a very eventful day. The experiences of that day are memorable because they marked the beginning for me as a new student, hopeful of feeling like I belonged in a school where I didn't know many people.

Jogging into the theater at approximately five-thirty, I finally approached the girls’ dressing room. There I saw most of my fellow-female cast members, some still arriving at the theater. Right then it hit me—tonight’s the night. I rushed into the room, so many different emotions

I wish that Jason could sing with me but there was no argument when Echo told me the song only required one set of vocals. After getting lost in my worried thoughts for a minute, my mind went back to reality when the lights dimmed and the crowd got quiet. My heart raced and it took all my strength to stand still and hold back tears. "Now everyone, this is our last entry for the competition but I've heard great things from this group and am sure they will impress you. Now playing the song (song name here) is (school name here) Middle School's Junior Music Group!" The announcer said in an excited voice. My stomach sank when he basically told the crowd to have high expectations but I knew I couldn't chicken out now. The curtains started to separate and bright lights started to blind me from the large crowd, which was good in this case. I knew now that I was facing the biggest challenge of my life and that if I failed to complete this challenge, my dreams of a musician would collapse, so I didn't take this lightly. I adjusted my posture one more time and with trembling hands I signaled Tori to begin her

You enter the large set of double doors leading into the main hallway of yet another new school. Your mind drifts to your old school as you observe your own reflection in the glass insets of the entry doors inviting you into a new world. A world you’d rather not be a part of, not now. This is not a new experience. It’s one that keeps repeating itself over and over. Larson Junior High will make the second school you’ve attended in the short time of being a ninth grader, and a total of eight schools since beginning the first grade.

After a long day of yearbook signings and other “farewell activities,” the bell rang, marking the end of my last day of middle school. I said goodbye to my friends and teachers and stuffed the last of my books and supplies into my already full backpack. As I walked down the main hall for the final time, I laughed at how long the hall had once seemed and how short it felt now. With the anticipation of summer building in me, I walked faster and faster, almost running toward freedom, but when I reached the door marked “Chorus- Mrs. Vermillion,” I couldn’t resist the urge to stop in one last time. The chorus room was always a happy place for me, where the troubles of the school day seemed just a little bit less important. I was fond of every detail, from the loyal old piano to Mrs. Vermillion’s

The sun rise fills the sky with a beautiful orange and dark purple. I walk past a pool shack, a bank, a 7-11, a Hardees, a Vet Office, and soon enough crossing guards are letting me move across the busy road to walk the long sidewalk to Deep Creek High School. A school filled with endearing, beautiful, smart teenagers... Sike. This school is terrible and what's even worse is the people. They're all shallow rednecks and stupid, unsophisticated, trashy, teen girls. No one here is worth