Senior year you are supposed to be on top of the food chain, but when you’re a new kid it seems like you have been bumped back down.
Searcy is quite different from my old town, Lubbock, TX. .In Lubbock, it is dry and desert like, while Searcy is in a perpetual state of rain. Lubbock is located in the panhandle of Texas and the high school there was one of five different high schools and had graduating classes of around 500 students. We didn’t start until 8:30 and got out at 4:30. We went off campus for lunch and the rules were fairly relaxed. I was involved in many organizations from the dance team to student council. I had known many of my friends in Lubbock since I was four.
I felt like an alien here because of the extreme changes. Leaving the safety net that I had developed in Lubbock was terrifying, and I was not sure I would be able to find a new niche in this town.
Starting the first day of school, I was worried that everything about Searcy would be as different as the climate is, but by the time I had finished my first day my nerves had calmed a bit. As it turned out somethings were different but the important things were the same. Students were friendly and helpful making sure I could find my next class. At lunch I was afraid I would end up eating alone in a corner, but I was quickly invited to sit at a table. The style of teaching used here was new to me, but did not seem like it would be difficult to catch on. The only issues I ran into was that I could not open my locker and the choir teacher had no idea that I had been put into varsity choir. I should have predicted my locker trouble though, because I have not used a locker since middle school. In Lubbock, we just used our cars to store our books. I just needed a few days to adjust.
As the week proceeded, things continued to improve and by Wednesday I was able to open my locker with out a problem. Also, the choir teacher had listened to me sing and decided to let me stay in the varsity class. I have begun to find a group of friends and figure out the rhythm of the school and city. I have even found my favorite coffee shop.
Although I still miss things about my old school like half day Friday’s and my old dance team, I am starting to feel like Searcy is my new home.
While most teens would hate moving their senior year, I have come to look at it as an adventure. I have high hopes that this adventure will end well, but I guess I will have to wait and see if I am right.
