Page 4 - Images Literary Magazine 2016 - 2017.pdf

New School New Memories

by Jordan Fuchs, Grade 8

?There are no strangers here; Only friends you haven?t
Shenton, squinting at some sort of list, and then suddenly breaking the silence with a
met yet.?
loud, booming voice.

- William Butler Yeats ?Hello class, I am your new second grade teacher and we are going to start the day
with attendance, so I can learn your names,? she smiled while scanning the whole
I stood on the squeaking gym floor behind the backs of many loud, chattering
room. Her sparkling sapphire eyes met mine, and I quickly looked back at the floor.
students, scanning the unfamiliar room for the first time. Staring at the vividly colored
banners that stretched across the gym wall, I did not even notice my class walking into Without even noticing at first, I started shaking my leg under the desk, something I

the hallway, clustered tightly like a can of sardines. I hastily grabbed my backpack and always do when I?m nervous. In an attempt to stop myself, I wrapped my ankle around
ran to catch up. As I trudged down the hallway on my first day of second grade in a brand the bottom of my chair, but the subconscious action continued.
new school, I listened to the distant mumbles coming from students up ahead. My eyes
?Brynn??
were locked on the cracked blue floor tiles in fear of making eye contact with one of the
strangers who I now called my classmates. I never would have guessed that a whole ?Here!? The roll call began, Mrs. Shenton calling out people one by one in her bubbly,
yet calm voice.
bunch of kids I didn?t know could become close friends so quickly.
While walking into my new classroom, the scents of chalk and markers jumped out at The names all blurred together into distant background noise as I stared out the
classroom window at the swaying trees full of autumn gold and rust colored leaves.
me. I quickly sat in the nearest chair and kept my eyes on my lavender nail polish, picking
Suddenly, I was snapped from my daydream at the sound of my name being chanted.
at the flaky purple paint. Looking up for a quick second, I saw the teacher, Mrs.

?Jordyn,? the teacher called. ?Jordyn Fuchs??

?Here,? I mumbled in a shaky voice: If it wasn?t clear that I was nervous before, it sure
was now. I sounded like a terrified little girl who had just seen some kind of monster.
However, Mrs. Shenton seemed to pay no attention to my anxiety as she walked towards
me with a big smile on her face, her short golden curls bouncing along the way.

?You must be our new student,? she grinned. ?Why don?t you stand up and tell the class
a little about yourself??

Slow as a tortoise, I rose from my chair and felt everyone?s eyes on me. I could feel myself
turning red, but when I finally looked up, I did not see judgey or rude kids; I saw a group of

friendly faces all smiling at me. A wave of relief rushed over me, and I quickly realized this
year would not be as bad as I expected.

After the first day, I realized I had judged my new school way too quickly. I expected to
have a hard time there with all of the new people, but ended up making friendships that
are still strong today. I now know that I must get to know a place or person before I
develop a negative or prejudiced attitude against it. Overall, the new school that seemed
like a scary nightmare at first, ended up being a wonderful place where memories were

made that I will never forget. Mural by PV Art Club //Art by Hailey Toles, Grade 7