This is Bree, obviously. Who else would be having a first day of school at the end of March? ;-)
So today, Monday, was it. The big first. New school. Hopefully new friends. I was nervous. Very nervous. I probably didn't show it, because when I get worried I just go silent, but I was kind of dreading it. In the end... it wasn't that bad, actually.
My new school is the public high school closest to our house. It's within walking distance; nice thing about living in a city. The weather wasn't great today so we took the bus, but when it warms up we'll usually walk if we're ready in time. It's not as big as some of my old schools - I've been to a lot of different schools. That's why I don't have a very... um... stellar academic history. It seems like I was constantly trying to get used to a new place, and I was absent a lot. Hopefully I'll do better here.
This is the same school Kirsten goes to, but we didn't have any classes together because she's a grade above me. (She's already sixteen, and I won't be until my birthday next weekend.) I'm in the same grade as Felicity but she and Josefina go to a different school where they study French and stuff. I wasn't quite ready to try school in a different language - if I can attend regularly and do alright in my own language, I'll be satisfied!
I was afraid the kids would snub me because I was a newcomer with a different accent, but they were all pretty nice actually. I wouldn't say I have friends yet exactly, but I made some nice acquaintances that could turn into friends in the future. My biggest fear was that I would have to sit alone at lunch, but I didn't. Some kids from my English class invited me to sit with them.
Classes were pretty much the usual. I had English, Math, Science, and History today. By the end of the week I have to decide whether to take French or Spanish. Luckily either way I have sisters who can help me.
I signed up for the Literary Society - which was kind of a given - but I decided to try Drama Club too. I'd always wanted to do drama but I was too scared to go on stage. Today I decided I was going to be brave and go for it, finally. Once the weather is warm, I may try out for Track and Field, too. I've never competed but I like to run. I may be too busy, though... I need to catch up in school, so I may not have time for three extracurriculars.
So that was my first day. It was tough. It was stressful. The whole time I was afraid I was going to do something embarrassing and humiliate myself. It wasn't bad, though. It was actually... maybe a little bit good. Tomorrow, I won't be anywhere near as nervous.
On an not-school-related note, I'm getting really antsy to find out when Fiona is coming. No one has given us a firm time yet. I miss her. I'm having lots of fun with my new sisters, but it'll be good when we can all be together.
Love,
Bree
Glad you had a good first day! Don't worry if you have to sit alone at lunch. Honestly it's not bad. I do it quite often since my sister has a different lunch period and my cousin Mac is often busy. And don't over fill your schedule, you want to leave time to get homework done and have free time. I'm sure you will do great. Good luck with your Drama Club!
ReplyDeleteEmily
Thanks, Emily! :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to strike a balance of getting involved in stuff - which means more opportunities to make friends - and not getting overwhelmed.
I do need to focus on my studies, especially since I haven't always done too well in school in the past. That'll be easier to do if I don't have to change schools again, and I won't have the bad stuff going on at home anymore to distract me. I think I can do better at my new school than I did in the past.
Drama will be fun if I can get over my stage fright!
-Bree
Welcome Bree .. glad to see you are settling in good and getting into school and some extra activities there just do not fill your schedule too full and overwhelm yourself right off .. it is good that you are getting involved though ..
ReplyDeleteSounds like you are settling into your new home good too .. keep us posted on how everything goes and have tons of fun in drama .. we love plays and dramatic fun around here with our cousins ..
Take care and have fun,
Kelsyee
Welcome Bree! I was grounded from the computer, so this is my first time talking with you. It must be good to be home and I'm so glad you had a good first day. :)
ReplyDeleteKelsyee - Yep, I'm definitely settling in. This already feels like home. One thing that surprised me about this family is that it's so.... normal. And non-dysfunctional. It's really nice to live in a place where my biggest worries are about stage fright and who to sit with at lunch.
ReplyDeleteReagan - It's nice to finally meet you. I read your blog while you were gone; it's really good. Glad you aren't grounded anymore!
Love,
Bree
By the way, an update on my second day of school:
ReplyDeleteClasses were alright. I've already read the book we're studying in English (The Scarlet Letter) but what we're doing in History (World War I) is something I've never learned about in school before, though I've read books about it.
That's a hazard of changing schools a lot - you tend to learn the same things over and over but miss out on other things entirely.
I sat with the same kids at lunch that I did yesterday. They're really nice and they seem like they like me. I was pretty quiet because I was still nervous, but they asked me questions about myself and it seemed like they actually cared what I said. I think the want to be my friends, and I would like that.
After school I had Drama Club for the first time. It was so much fun! We played improv games for the first half-hour, then for the rest of the time we broke into groups and acted out little scenes without a script. I really liked it.
The teacher asked if I had a good time, and I said yes, but that I didn't think I would be as happy about it with lots of people watching and the bright lights shining on me. I was afraid she would tell me I should just quit, but the teacher told me that if I still wanted to be part of the spring play but I didn't want to do all that, I could be on the stage crew!
I was so relieved. I think that will be perfect. I want to be part of it, and I think stage crew will be lots of fun. It'll be neat to see what a play is like from behind the scenes. I can do acting when we have the club, but I won't have to worry about my stage fright by doing it in front of strangers yet. It seems like the perfect solution!
So that was my second day. I like this school!
Love, Bree