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Wednesday, February 1, 2017
"Change" by Ashley G
It was the beginning of seventh grade at a new school I was attending. I left behind all
of my friends who I had known since preschool because we moved to Fontana. At the time it felt
like everything was so different since I was in a new environment. Shortly after the move, school
began and I remember feeling like a bundle of nerves, not ready for any change. The first day, I
woke up extremely early just thinking about how this school would compare to the previous one
I went to. Finally, after about an hour of procrastination, my mom told me it was time to leave
and I hurried to the car. I was fortunate enough to have my cousin also go to Summit
Intermediate, but she was in eighth grade so we only really saw one another before and after
school. When I arrived I remember the bell had rung and someone told me I was late which did
not help out my nervousness. I began to rush trying to find my first class only to realize I had no
idea where I was supposed to go. After about a couple of minutes I found someone to ask where
I needed to be and they happily pointed me in the right direction. Upon entering the class I
immediately noticed the teacher made name cards for every student, so all I had to do was look
around until I found my name. I felt relief that most of the students were either searching for
their seats or talking so my being late wasn't an interruption. Once everyone was seated the usual
first day of school, teacher introductions began and all I remember was looking around in a sea
of unfamiliar faces. As the day droned on, I still did not have a single conversation with anyone
and it didn't help that I was a shy person. When it was time for lunch I remember walking very
slowly because I failed to meet someone who I could hang out with. This was the first time in my
whole life that I felt truly alone. After lunch I continued on with my classes until it was finally
time to go home and I felt happy again, knowing I would be home where I was more comfortable
with things. My mom picked me up and the first thing she asked me was, “how do you like your
new school?” and I gave a vague answer, not wanting to go into details. The days went by and
when Thursday came, around lunchtime this random girl came up to me and asked me, “Would
you like to sit with me and my friends?” Although I didn’t know her, I followed her to the tables
and we quickly became friends. School was no longer something I dreaded, but instead was
something to look forward to. In an instant my situation changed and I realized that all it takes is
one act of kindness from someone to change your attitude. Change is inevitable, but from my
friend I learned that it does not always have to have a negative impact on your life.
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35 comments:
I thought that your overall message was extremely sweet. To endure the struggle of having to adjust and experience a new setting is scary, but you took on the issue with an open mind, and like you said, it did not have a negative impact on your life whatsoever. I admired this personal story of yours, and your outlook on the idea of change!
I really enjoyed reading your piece and the idea of having the message to be kind to one another. I know it's scary to go from one school to another and leaving friends behind, but with your piece, it showed more of a positivity by meeting new people and having a reason to actually want to go to school. Thank you for sharing!-Aryelle Estrada
I completely relate to this piece because freshman year I came from the Fontana district, so I knew absolutely no one. Like your experience, mine was difficult at first (I ate lunch alone the first day, too), but it gradually got easier. I'm glad everything worked out for you!
This piece is very easy to relate to for almost everyone I believe. I have also felt alone in situations like these so I understand your exact feeling. You explained how you felt so well and included very good imagery, it makes me feel like I was there to experience it with you, Good Job!
I really can't relate to this piece as I've lived in Fontana for my whole life, but I can imagine how hard it was for you coming into a new school and trying to meet people at your new school. I'm glad you've grown to become less shy. Thank you for sharing your struggle with us.
I feel like one act of kindness can change someones whole life around if it comes at the right moment. If I went through a whole day without knowing anyone or talking to anyone, I would have dreaded going to school too. I can relate to this because this happened to me the first day of high school but it was a very nice story with a happy ending.
Honestly I completely understand where you are coming from because I too had to experience this change when I moved to different areas and schools and trying to meet and make new friends. I really enjoyed this piece because I can relate so much to this. I also enjoyed your message on how change is not just bad but good as well. Amazing job!
I found this piece very relatable because I too moved to Fontana in middle school and found it quite difficult to adjust to a new setting in the beginning. However, like many things, you become accustomed to it and quickly find yourself in a better position than you once were. Your message that change does not always have to be negative, but it can be a truly life-changing experience for the better is well-written in this piece!
I love this piece! I feel like everyone can relate to this at some point in their life. Making friends isn't always the easiest thing but once you make some the situations you are put in become easier and more comfortable. You did a very good job telling the story making it seem like I was there. Very nice job, I am glad everything worked out for you!
This is an excellent piece that anyone who has experienced moving can relate to. It perfectly captures the emotions that new students on their first day of school feel, and the positive ending and message show how a simple act of kindness can have a major effect.
Thank you for sharing this experience with us, Ashley. Through your narrative, I found myself relating to the situation you faced since I am also a very shy person and making new friends in a place where I don't know anyone is very difficult for me. Your message about change is very important and should be relayed to everyone, especially at this time as many of us seniors are moving away to uncharted territory for college, where we will be facing this situation you faced in seventh grade. Your attitude at the end adds a a feeling of optimism, even when you initially feel unsure, which feels very relieving. Your shifting life and experiences were well written out in this piece!
I loved the message you had behind the story. I'm glad you talked about change, it's crazy because, I thought what the piece was going to be about, and I guessed right. But, overall it's a positive message and thank you for sharing.
I can completely relate to this situation since I moved into school districts when I was in middle school as well. I can totally understand that feeling of being alone and anxiousness of not knowing anyone. I really enjoyed how you utilized many of your personal feelings and experiences in order to accurately describe your situation. Great Job!
I enjoyed this piece because of how relatable it is to myself and others. I liked how I felt your emotions and I felt empathy for you. This was an interesting and intriguing story.
I haven't moved to different schools before, but growing up I definitely remember the feeling of being lonely. I use to keep a mindset that I'd never have friends and that I'd never be able to hold a conversation with anyone, but I'm really thankful to God that things have finally changed for the better. I know my social skills could definitely improve a lot more, but I'm working at it. I really agree with you that a single act of kindness can really make or break a situation, I remember a longtime ago when I accidentally stepped on someone's shoes they were threatening to beat me until someone older intervened and yelled at the other person, the person who intervened isn't alive anymore but I hope and pray that God grants him paradise. Great job, I hope you don't need to go through the feeling of being lonely again!
I like this story, that outsider feeling is something everyone goes through at one point or another in their life. I remember starting a new middle school once too, and I shared much of those same feelings you mention. Looking back now, I can see that a huge problem with being nervous and shy is the general assumption you make at the time that says you are alone: as if you are the only person who has to go through that isolated feeling. You said it well, "[change] does not always have to have a negative impact on your life," because facing problems are the best way we can grow our character. You're right, your situation can change in an instant, all it takes is a change in attitude. Nice post!
yes, very true. change can have more of an optimistic tone to it and if you resent change you wont be able to move forward and grow as an individual. I can't relate in the aspect of shyness, because it's naturally easy for me to make new friends, but leaving your home town must of been hard. Since I can't relate in that aspect either, I see how hard it is to move forward like that, great job.
I really enjoyed this story, especially since I could relate to it so much since I went to private school until high school, so when I was a freshman, I knew absolutely no one and had no friends for the longest time. I clearly saw your feelings of anxiety and eventual relief in this story. What you said about change near the end of your story is very important for many of us to hear. Great job!
This piece was very well written and relatable to myself in the past. You left a great message at the end about how change is inevitable and reflecting on it lets me see that it's best to just hope for the best out of our constantly changing lives.
Overall, i thought this was such an innocent and sweet piece. I also like how it was relatable to the fact that i even remember when i was in middle school. I had the worst anxiety the first day of classes and HATED changing surroundings. I like how in the end you take us back into reality and remind us that change is going to happen no matter what. i liked it, great job!
I really enjoyed reading your story not only because I can relate but also because it gave me slight nostalgia thinking back to when I first moved here and had gone through my first day of school. I loved how you used details from your own experience to convey the overall message that I am sure a majority can relate to. Change really doesn't have to be all that bad.
I could relate to this piece because I moved to Fontana in the 5th grade and how I was dreading lunch because I did not have anyone to sit next to. Your story is very positive and entertaining to read. Good Job!
I have lived in the same area my whole life and have grown up attending the schools that most of my friends have gone to and I can not imagine the feeling. I give everyone props for having to move to a new school and have to make new friends and adjust. I believe it is a great experience and allows you to open up as a person, I have just never gone through that and have no idea what that feels like. I am glad you were able to overcome it and make new friends and not let it effect your life.
I totally related with this piece, I changed schools in sixth grade and went through a very similar situation, and I do totally agree with you on change being inevitable, way to make this piece really paint a picture of that dreadful first day.
Ashley, I really admired your piece because it reminded me that one small act of kindness can change a persons life and have a great impact to make them feel included and make sure they aren't alone. You also portrayed how change is an extremely difficult time in ones life, but also showed that we aren't alone and change can be beneficial and a growing experience.
I really like how you structured your piece and how you included details, on how you felt while you were going through a change in atmosphere. I've moved so many times in my life, and just recently I had moved to a whole different state where I did not know anybody. So as I was reading I was thinking of how I also felt just the way you did; lonely, dreaded going to school and completely nervous. I also agree that it takes one kind person to change your perspective. Nice piece:)
Wow girl your story was really relatable, I experienced something the same when I transferred from Ruth O Harris to Heritage. I gained friends like my 3rd day of middle and it suddenly became a better experience. I really enjoyed reading ur story, You have a great mind for stories thank you so much for sharing it!!
Ashley I really loved reading your story because it truly opened my eyes. As a kid who grew up in the same area my whole life with same friends and familiar faces around me at school, I have never really thought about how nerve racking and scary it must be for a "new kid" to attend their new school. Your story made me realize that it only takes a small kind action to literally turn someones whole world around. Thank you for sharing such an insightful piece about your transition to a new school, and more importantly thank you for reminding us how big of an impact one tiny act of kindness can make on someone's life.
I really enjoyed your piece. Not only was it a pure, simple, and relatable story, but in a way it was also a didactic. By sharing your memory of someone giving you a simple act of kindness and conveying its overall effect,it itself can create a chain reaction and influence others to take on a similar deed. Great job, Ashley!
Even if you have stayed in the same place all your life, we have all had the feeling of apprehensiveness when entering a new school, which makes your piece very relatable. Also, the diction helps to convey how lonely you were quite well. Nice job!
I really loved your piece because I was able to relate on so many levels. When I was in fourth grade I moved schools and having been with my friends for so long it was hard to adjust. But over time just like you I was able to make friends and very much enjoyed my time at my new school. Not only with school but sometimes in life we are faced with so many new situations in which we need to adapt and make the best of it. Your message was so sweet and I really enjoyed it.
I really enjoyed reading this because I can also relate to this very alone feeling due to being in a new school. You expressed your emotion very well throughout this piece, it made me feel like I could relate to you more. Also, you gave great detail that made me want to keep reading! Great Job!
I know how you felt. I've been the new kid at school so many times that the feeling is all too familiar. Though, once you start making friends things become so much easier. Thank you for sharing your story, it's comforting to know others have felt this way too.
I agree, all its takes is one act of kindness that can lead to an immediate and lasting change for the better. I can relate to this my freshman year of high school as being lost and alone, this was a great, reminiscent story!
I have already had to move long-distance myself, away from my close friends, family, and the city i had lived in my entire life, so this piece really struck home. This is a very relatable problem that many people face, and the way in which you wrote your piece will be sure to help them. Excellent work.
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