Life has a funny way of presenting lessons. Most of mine were through a series of transferring schools, nine schools to be exact. There were many opportunities to reveal what I needed to know for the rest of my experiences. Just to show you what I am saying, here are some examples:
By the end of first grade, I knew I would transfer again. I was still just as happy as the other students on the last day of school, one of the seldom parties we were allowed to have. With treats and games and presents, what seven-year-old would not be? Towards the end of the school day, I would look to my friends and tell them we would not be friends next year, but I would always remember them. Now technology has allowed friends to stay in contact, but then it was much harder. I learned that sometimes, you had to let people go.
Again at a new school and new city, I started third grade as excited as humanly possible. I slept in my first day of school outfit the night before. I walked to my classroom and found my already assigned seat. As I watched the rest of the students walk in, it had seemed that they already know each other. Everyone. I was the only new student in my class. I was ignored, but the teacher found one of the nine-hundred-million ice breaker games to introduce me. There were two students that did not seem to have many friends. When lunch time came, I got my school lunch and looked around at the entire third grade. Finally, I walked over to them asked if it was okay that I sat with them and of course, they said yes. I learned that sometimes, you need to take chances.
Years and schools later, I was ready to go into seventh grade. At this time, I was making a transition from private to public school. Probably from watching far too many lifetime movies, I already had an idea of what to expect. Obviously, I was wrong. I expected a lot of bullies and overly pretty people. Lifetime had taught me wrong. There was almost no bullying, and some people that were prettier than adolescent me. I had bad acne and was really into tying my jacket around my waist (let’s not talk about it). There were some friendly people, the friendliness varied. I was accepted and it was as if I had always been there. I learned that you need to give everyone a chance.
There were more stories and more lessons, but those were the most important. School has taught a lot, but it was these moments that taught me the most. Each of the nine schools had their own impact on me over time, some more than others. Teachers and faces faded, but the lessons always remained the same. Hopefully, as I make one more transfer to college, I will be able to use the lessons I have learned to my fullest advantage. That is the most you can ask for a lesson.
