The night before the first day of school, I lay in bed, feeling both anxious and excited about starting a new phase of my life. I stared up at the ceiling, feeling more nervous than ever. My mind buzzed with questions: How would I navigate my classes? Would my friendships pick up where we left off? I felt skittish, my heart racing with the uncertainty of what lay ahead.
When I closed my eyes, memories of my time at El Rancho, my middle school, came flooding back to me. I remembered those days that were filled with stress and tension, those days when I worried if I would be able to make it through the rest of the year. There were many days when I just wanted to give up. The memories suffocated me.
Nevertheless, I took a deep breath. The anxiety that had swarmed my mind began to dissipate. It felt as if a weight had been lifted, and the anxious thoughts that had clouded my mind began to fade. When the fog cleared, a realization dawned on me and the happy memories came reeling back to me. I thought about the friends I made during my time at El Rancho and the bond we shared. How successful I felt at the promotion ceremony. I had faced challenges before and overcome them. This was just another milestone, another step on my journey. With that thought, I finally felt at peace, ready to face whatever the next day might bring.
When I asked my friend Liv Mora (9), her thoughts summarized my feelings perfectly. “During the first week of school, I felt very nervous and stressed. And also a little excited. I felt stressed because I didn’t know where my classes were, and I was nervous to see who my teachers were. As school progressed, I realized it wasn’t that bad and it’s just more lenient than middle school and it is more fun. When I asked her how she feels now, she responded with a laugh, “I just feel more relaxed and know where my classes are now. It’s… actually really fun.” In the words of my other friend Savannah Morgan (9), “It is like a 6/10.”
Their experiences reminded me that I wasn’t alone in my feelings. The nerves, the excitement, the uncertainty—these were all part of the process. I realized that everyone’s journey through this new phase would be different, but we were all navigating it together. I realized that this new phase is a new opportunity. There would be challenges but there would also be triumphs and laughter, and moments of pure laughter. With that thought, I felt a surge of confidence. This wasn’t just the start of another school year; it was the beginning of a journey I was ready to embark on.