I remember the first time I stepped into NPA. I felt sick and dizzy. It seemed as if every single person in the hallway was staring at me like I was some sort of weird sea creature that lived in the very depths of the ocean. The second day was just the same. Walking by everyone with eyes surrounding me made me tense up. The third and fourth days were repeats. It wasn’t until about a month had passed of difficult school work and working up the courage to make new friends that I started to feel comfortable in my own skin. Now I look at the new seventh graders and wonder if they felt the same as I did on that hot August day. Did they feel nervous, excited, or distraught? Well, I know one person who can answer these questions. Clare O’Brien is a new seventh grade girl at NPA. I ask her all the time of what she thinks of NPA and how her first day really went. I remember her telling me that of course she was nervous, but she was more excited and ready to start the year then I ever was. She is more the type of person who doesn’t dwell on what others think of her. There are always those days that she is frustrated with NPA because she is stressed and confused, but overall Clare seems pretty comfortable about being in the NPA environment. This raised the question on how other new seventh graders felt on the first day of school and what they think of it at this point in time. What are the views of other seventh grade students at NPA?

Recap: Me in 7th Grade

                  Like any other student I had my favorite classes, my group of friends and of course my favorite eating spot. It might not sound that important, but it is what made my experience in seventh grade not as stressful (my favorite eating spot wasn’t that pivotal but it was where people could find me at lunch time).  All of these things made it easier to like and enjoy school.

                  I obviously had my favorite classes like any other student but I also had some classes that just didn’t make me smile with rainbows when I walked through the door. It wasn’t that I disliked the teachers; it was the fact that I couldn’t always comprehend the information presented to me. On the other hand, there were those classes that I enjoyed such as Latin. Latin came naturally to me, and I understood what to do at all time. The class was very organized, and I always knew what was going on. Geography was one of my tougher classes. Don’t get me wrong, the teacher was really funny and great to work with, I just could not get the information to easily stick in my brain. Overall, the classes and the teachers were great but attending some classes didn’t always appeal to me.

                  Friends are always one of the best parts of school, and they seem to help make school not be so tedious. My friends were and still are always there for me. They help me understand school work and make it better when I receive a low grade or have just had a rough day. If I didn’t have them with me I don’t think I could handle school as well as I do. Knowing that they are going through the same things I do makes it feel that I am not alone in my situation. Hopefully I am as good a friend to them as they are to me!