The New Kid Has Its Perks

The familiar aroma of coffee fills the air as I enter the not so common area. I feel very bewildered in the labyrinth of hallways searching for my classroom just like I had stepped into corn maze as a child. At last, I locate the secluded room tucked away inside the massive building. Even though the number on the door matches the number on my schedule I am still second guessing if I am in the right place. The door opened up as students poured out. Finally, I took my seat at the back, trying my hardest to sit down unnoticed. My hands were shaking as I wrote the class name at the top of my paper. After what seemed like ages the professor proceeded to

Hurrying to my seat in the back of English, I sit down, and start preparing for class. I pull out my composition notebook from my backpack and start to doodle little sunflowers all over the lined paper. I sit alone in the back of class, but I don't mind because I’m not really a people person. No one wants to sit with me anyways. My table is right next to a large window, so I stare out it often, watching raindrops race each other, or clouds drifting through the sky. The sound of Mrs. Wright clearing her throat brings me out of my daze. Her 4-inch heels click-clack against the tile floor, and she walks to the front to signal the beginning of class.

On the first day of sophomore year I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I would be, until I entered my third block teacher’s classroom. I arrived late and the entire class was as quiet as a library, which is shocking for a high school. As my new teacher walked to the board and wrote “Mrs. Crolley” I remembered all of the rumors I had heard earlier in the day. Some said she was an extremely tough teacher, others said she had changed their life. Little did I know, I would find both of those statements to be true.

I remember the first day I saw this kid. It was in September on a warm and windy Tuesday. This particular Tuesday was not like any other Tuesday because of the new student and the way the room felt when he walked in. I usually sat in the back left of the classroom because I was not that type of child that would sit in the front

Its been a year since I began walking these new halls with lockers on both sides of me. Although the faces that pass me look unfamiliar, i began to recognize

Walking to the bus stop that morning was difficult, but exciting at the same time. I was soon going to be at the high school for my first day. I knew that it was just an orientation, but I was still nervous. I don’t have any older siblings so taking my first step into the school was like a step in the dark, I had no idea what high school would actually be like. Little did I know that high school would change the way I view life, school, and grades.

One day, my teacher assigned us with other students in the class for a history project where we had to research, write two separate essays, provide a vivid visual representation and present over Connecticut history. As a 3rd grader this was a tedious project, and was not easy even with a partner. I had been assigned to one of the most affluent girls in the class, and the moment she heard my name slip from the

My first day of eighth grade was a reassuring experience. Immediately after I was assigned my college I was worried I was placed in the average class, but as I stood quietly in line I noticed familiar bright students. My first class was english with Mrs. Brisko who told us two truths I can’t remember the lie and one of the truths even though it’s only been two days. One of her truths was that she loved country music. She then asked us to do the same with the three or four people around us. Since we were all a bit shy we wasted the entire time thinking about what to say. Once that was over Mrs. Brisko asked us what rules keep a classroom running smoothly. In the end we came up with a few rules, responsibility and respect. It was almost time to

I nervously walked down the colorful hallway decorated with children’s art projects and posters with cliche quotes. I approached the room labeled 208, took a deep breath and opened the door. Instantly I felt the intense glare of 25 4th grade students. Their teacher introduced me and explained that I would be helping out once a week because I would be studying education in college. Giggles and whispers filled the room and even some comments about my above average height. After quieting the rambunctious children, the teacher proceeded to give the class a math assignment and then gestured me towards her desk. “Could you take Maya into the hallway and help her with this fractions worksheet?” She asked. I was shocked I didn't expect to be working

In contrast, I have observed my fellow peers spending countless hours scribing beautiful notes in full HD color, while I just absorbed the teacher’s voice and still managed to attain one of the highest grades in the class. I refused to adopt “their” method at the time because I reasoned that I did just as well if not better than them in class. However, after my second semester of my junior year, I can “proudly” say that I can also empathize with the students I have taught.

Within a matter of weeks, I was starting the fifth grade in a new school where people only spoke English. Even though I eventually picked up the language, there were many challenges that I had to go through. One of my most vivid memories

I strolled into the room, introduced myself to my new teacher, and he assigned me an empty seat. He had told me to ask the student next to me to help me get set up with the class. The student immediately gave me my teacher’s website once I was logged onto the computer, and guided me through the process of making an account. Not long after, my teacher asked me if I was all set, and he then instructed how to find his assignments and described his current assignment, which was to research the parts needed to make a computer, but we had a budget to do so.

As for individual students, there were a few unique individuals, as well as a few students with special needs. In Mr. Leonhardt’s class, there was a very enthusiastic 2nd grade girl who hugged each one of us as she entered the classroom. He tended to her needs by having her sit next to him during class, and calmed her down when she started to get upset. Mrs. Davidson had a partially-deaf student with a cochlear implant, and the cochlear implant connected to a speaking device that Mrs. Davidson wore during the class period. In Mrs. Pollard’s class, a student with special needs who did not have the hand-eye coordination to play the recorder instead used a keyboard with his own headphones in order to play the same song that the students who were

The only sound that filled my ears was my keyboard clicking as my fingers raced across it. I had been procrastinating from finishing this assignment all evening, but I knew I needed to get it done. The burning sunset was shining through the windows as I was finishing up. It was a peaceful silence, until I heard the soft whispers of my parents that ignited my sense of curiosity. I was concentrating hard; doing my best trying to make out the hushed words that were being spoken.

I stepped onto the school campus and could just see the constant flow of high school students wandering and walking to say ‘hi’ to their friends. This was very new to me since I was homeschooled all my life. I had no idea what it was like to be bullied or go to high school parties or make NEW friends. So I decided to find my first class which was world history. I found it eventually, luckily before the bell rang too. I couldn’t believe