For those who don't know me, I am going to be a junior in high school on the 7th of September. I noticed that many people are going to school around this time. I would like to share a story with you, mostly because I'm bored and have nothing else to do (Haha, not really).
The story starts out with my freshman orientation two years ago. For me, this was not the first official day of high school. Before we get into the story, I want to tell you that I had moved to a new town a week before orientation. So, that means I knew nobody what so ever.
It was near the end of August and we had just moved into our new house in a Portland Suburb. The first thing about the town that I noticed was that there was very few stores or places to go. I had been used to everything being available in under 10 minutes when I lived in Eugene (My old town).
Other than a new town, I had to go to a new school. The school I was going to was a public high school. A public high school. Why am I putting the emphasis on public. Well, I had never been in a public school and what I got of public school was from television (Ah, television. The lies they tell of school life). I know I shouldn't of been worried about high school and that the size was 5 times as big as my elementary/middle school, but I was.
My dad drove me to the school. I was shaking the whole car drive down (I lived on the top hill of the city). When we arrive to the school, anxiety filled my body. My heart raced and my breathing became short. My dad just laughs and tells me I will be alright. I saw the school ahead of me, and I sick. My dad had to lead me up there.
When I entered the school, all I could hear was the voices of the students. The voices were mixed together, creating a rather terrifying uproar. I eventually told my dad to leave, because I really didn't want to be seen with my dad. I let him do the paper work, but I headed toward the students. Apparently, because I was new in town, my name tag was in the VIP section (Wow, don't I feel special!*sarcasm*)
I probably did the typical "wallflower" move and stood by the wall in the cafeteria. Beside me were tables flipped to their sides to make room for all the students arriving. Everyone was on the other side of the cafeteria and the only person who was by me was a tall girl with a ponytail on her cellphone. I just watched as the other incoming freshman got back together with their friends from middle school.
Near the end of the "waiting section", the girl with the ponytail approached me.
"Hi! I'm Alexandra*," the girl cheerfully said to me. (*This is not her real name.)
"Hi. I'm Meghan. I just moved here from Eugene."
"Really? I just moved from Medford(*Also not the real town she was from). Do you know where that is?"
"Yah, I've been there before," I replied just loud enough for her to hear me.
Soon enough, I heard a older looking student yelling at us to go into the gym. We all, like scurrying ants, were headed toward the gym. "Let's go," Alexandra exclaimed. It seemed for a second that I could make a new friend, but that was destroyed sections later. These other group of girls were pushed toward Alexandra, and they began talking. Of course, I'm really small and quiet and was left buried in the crowd.
With all the other students, I entered the gym. Upperclassmen stood parallel from one another and we went through the middle. They clapped loudly, yelled at us, and wore clothing I would never wear in public. I covered my ears (No, not to ignore them). I could not take the volume. I didn't want to lose my hearing (Though, I would of been alright if I didn't cover my ears. I just don't like loud noises).
After the double chain of upperclassmen ended, I faced an enemy or mine. Where do I sit? I didn't want to sit in a place where I would have to be told to move by other students. In fact, this happens a lot. You are probably wondering why I didn't say no. Why? Well, I let them sit next to their friends (very typical). Don't get me wrong, I have denied peoples' request for something. I'm not that much of a pushover.
When the program did begin, the principal came up and introduced himself. He was shorter than most males and had enough hair just to cover the top of his head. Out then came some cheerleaders who did flips.
After the introduction of the cheerleaders and the reciting of the school anthem (ick), we were playing some hula hoop game. I, of course, did not participate. Of course the game put you on the spot, and I hate being in the center of attention. This is especially when doing something embarrassing, which is what the student did.
Yawn! Is this thing over?
Finally, all the "fun" games ended and we were assigned into groups. We were told to look at out name tags for our group. I looked at my name tag. 50. That meant I had a lot of waiting to do. I watched as groups of ten people went into a group. People got up from their seat and headed to the gym floor. The number of people diminished in the bleachers, and I was one of the ones left. I noticed Alexandra was one of the people who were left for the last groups. I figured out that the last groups were for new students. I guess new students should get to know the other new students.
My number was finally called (the second to last one), and I head to the farthest left corner on the gym. My group was smaller than most. There were only three other girls in my group. Oh, goody joy! We played more games! The next game, though, was based on more personal information like birthdays. We played a game where we had to go in order by height. I hate comparing height.
We were lead out to a certain room with our "Link Leaders". I realized I forgot to mention them. They help us around the school and give us advice (Though, after school started I only got one text from them). Their names were...? I actually don't know. They were "regular" names (like mine, Meghan).
All of us girls introduced ourselves to each other. Unlike the leaders, they had strange names (thought I won't mention them here). Their names were Penelope*, Natalie*, and Nikki*. As I found out, we were all new students. Penelope was home schooled, Natalie traveled a lot, and Nikki had moved from Hawaii.
After introductions, we did some drawing about our lives. I started to notice the interesting things people did. Penelope volunteered at the zoo, Nikki did gymnastics, and Natalie apparently performed guitar for Hilary Duff (apparently). I said I went to France. No one really cared.
As time went by, all we did was go around the school and talk. All the students regrouped in the gym. I remember I went to the bathroom and came back sitting in a new seat. I felt a tap on the back of my shoulder.
"Excuse me," she said with her friends just in back of her.
"Yes?"
"Did you notice you had something on your back?"
I turned around and tried to get whatever was on my back, but she ended up getting it for me. It happened to be a torn up name tag. It wasn't mine, and I had no clue how it got on my back. I thanked her and sat down at a nearby seat. I had my name tag on, so it wasn't mine. I realized (it was quiet obvious), that somebody probably put it on my back. I wondered what else it could be. I sat against a wall that had a torn name tag? I felt embarrassed, so disrespected. I know it doesn't seem that bad, but why would someone put their garbage on my back? The school had many trash cans. I eventually pushed the issue aside.
The end of the day involved my dad and I talking to my counselor about my classes for next year. I realized, "I'm going into high school."
Though, you are probably wondering what my official first day of high school was like, it wasn't anything special. I went through the year like any other serious student. I studied, slept, and did whatever I had to do.
I never saw Alexandra again until one lunch during sophomore year. She looked different then I had first seen her.
Penelope had only known me for the first month or two. I would see her sitting at lunch alone on a bench. I would say hi and ask how she was doing in school. Eventually months passed and she no longer sat at her typical lunch spot. I was in her AP US History Class sophomore year, but we didn't talk. She had made many new friends.
Nikki had a locker next to mine. The only words she said to me was,"I need to get to my locker, please." She switched lockers the next year since I had new freshman beside me.
Oh, and Natalie got a performing contract from some recording studio in Nashville. That's the truth. She had to do more traveling.
Well, as for me. Since I know pretty much what happens to me, because I am me, I could probably give you a whole movie about it (Which I won't). But for freshman year, I made one friend and got almost straight A's. (Darn you, English!)
I know I'm making such a big deal about Orientation, but it is nothing other than introducing us students to high school. Why I write about mine? Well, it is probably so far one of the only eventful high school moments where my family doesn't make up the whole story (I love my family!).
I'm only half way there, but more memories are going done that road....
