April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
PERSPECTIVE
Ready for my new adventure: high school
High school: Those are two words that can mean a lot of different things for a lot of different people. Those words bring up different feelings inside of everyone. This fall, I will be attending Catholic Central High School in Troy.
For me, high school means an exciting new adventure. It means taking advantage of all the academic opportunities and having the responsibility to make sure I get all of my work done successfully; it means having the courage to branch out, form good friendships and make the most of my experiences, because you only go to high school once.
I'm so fortunate that I have had a great school career that makes me think positively about my new adventure.
I attended Mater Christi School in Albany from three-year-old preschool through eighth grade. It was truly an amazing school and experience. I felt as though it was my second home. Mater Christi was a safe space that allowed me to express myself creatively and academically. I had always loved learning, and the work at Mater Christi challenged me.
I was so fortunate to be put in a Catholic school. Most kids wake up dreading school, but I woke up every morning with a smile on my face, ready to see my friends of 11 years and to learn.
I dreaded graduation. Graduating meant saying goodbye to the only school I had ever known. I was very excited when I was named the valedictorian of my eighth-grade graduating class, because I got to make a speech. The best way of expression and communication for me is through writing.
I was able to communicate my thanks and experiences as I read my speech on graduation night. In my one chance in life to attend elementary and middle school, I'm so glad my days were spent at Mater Christi. I am looking forward to spending the rest of those days at Catholic Central. I feel prepared and ready to move on to high school, my next adventure.
This fall, there will be a few hundred kids in the high school that I don't know. For most people, that would scare them. I'll admit, I'm scared, too -- but the fact that I will be able to meet a lot of new people really excites me.
In movies, high school is either made out to be a scary place or a place where people dance and sing on the tables at lunch. As I've learned from my sister, neither are realities -- though I must admit that I was a little sad when I found out that no one spontaneously broke out in song and dance moves!
My sister, Julie, will be a senior at Catholic Central this fall. It is really great to have an older sister who has been there experiencing what I will soon be experiencing. Julie and I are really close and she tells me that Catholic High is a great community full of kind people who genuinely care about you.
"Everyone cares about your success and wants you to succeed. They do everything they can to help you achieve your goals. High school is different from what you're used to, but it's a truly great experience, and you will learn a lot," she said.
It's also great that Julie will be a senior while I'm a freshman. While I'm on my new adventure, I'll still have someone who's familiar to give me a sense of security. It helps also to have such a great family; I know, whatever is going on, I have my parents and grandparents there for me.
Catholic Central is also a great place to try new things. High school has many more clubs and opportunities than middle school. I plan to try out for the volleyball team and be on the mock trial team. I also hope to join many clubs, such as the drama club.
Although I am a little nervous about stepping into a new environment, my excitement and happiness overwhelms any fear. This is my chance to meet new people and set my fate for the next four years. Thankfully, I have learned many things from Julie, and I have a good academic background.
Even though I won't be dancing and singing in the lunchroom anytime soon, I'm excited to finally have butterflies as I ride to school, figure out where to sit at lunch and, most of all, begin high school.
(This summer, Kara was an intern for The Evangelist. She attends Mater Christi parish in Albany.)[[In-content Ad]]
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