Wallflower Stories: Freshman Orientation

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....

Summer Time!

School is finally over for most people, and that means fun, fun, fun!

Did I end school today? No. I finished school last Friday afternoon. It would of been much better if people did not talk so I could of finish my final in peace! Also in my graphic arts class, nobody was listening to me! No one ever listens-. *Ahem* Sorry about that! My school played "School's Out" over the intercom. That was a terrible idea since you could hear the static from the microphone. Unlike most, I did not have people sign my yearbook (Since nobody seems to do that at my school anymore). I just wanted to get the heck out of that place. Too much hugs and kissing going around.

Summer is what I've have been waiting for since school started. (Sorry this post is a month late. I forgot to publish it)

I'm Still Learning

Recently, I decided I should learn the basics of web design. I'm sort of getting bored using other peoples' designs. It might take me awhile, but at least I'm learning. I looked online and learned the basics, but I have way more thing I have to include. I'm taking a web design class next year, so that might help. Other than that, I got photo shop CS5.5 last Saturday. (The .5 is and extended version which I don't know what it includes.) I have to get my transcript because I have to be clear to Adobe that I am a student and not some adult who wants a discount. They are very strict about what they want. I was going to photo copy my school id, but my school doesn't show the date 6 months ago. I have 10/11 but they want specific dates. Oh well, it isn't too hard to get my transcripts. (I think)

Sorry I haven't been posting for awhile. I had so many tests last week and was overly stressed out. I'm probably going to continue writing at least 1-2 times a week from now on. Well, have a good day!

-Meghan

P.S. I might change the layout of my blog, so be prepared!

Friday....

Sorry for the long absence. Last week I came down with a cold and wasn't in the mood to do anything and this week I had to study for my APUSH exam (Which is now finished! Yes :D).

This Friday afternoon is filled with rain, which is a burden since I wanted to swing outside or go to the park. I have little to do right now other than maybe taking a nap (or not). I'm completely bored and have no idea what to do......

Maybe I should do my homwork? Pff! It's Friday!

Short Post of the Week: Mistaken Age

2 Fridays ago I was at my two sisters' dance performance at her school. It is an annual thing they do, and that Friday I had school off. It was a nice performance. After, we were going to pick up my sister. A lady walks up to me and says,

You had a great performance! Good job!

It was very kind of the lady to thank me. There is just a few problems.

This is an elementary school and I'm in 10th grade.
I thought I looked young but not 11 year old young.
Even a girl at school agreed I looked like a 5th grader.
Hey? I guess its a good thing in some perspective.
Haha *sigh*

Another Update Post!

As of today, I have been thinking of opening my own webiste just for video. I might have 3 short films shot before school finishes in early June and I would like to put them somewhere. Overall, I just want a place to put my work. For blogger it is very hard because you can only create one post with the other pages. I don't want to open another blog because I don't like keeping up with both of them. I have a livejournal it is hard to update often.

My second update is that starting this summer I might be writing my posts in other languages. They won't be entirely in a different language, but there will be bits. I really want to practice my foreign languages. By the way, I am learning French and Japanese. I do know a little Spanish, but don't see me using it since I barely remember anything.

My last update is that I will soon get photoshop (Hopefully CS5) for my PC. I also might get dreamweaver. It might take a few weeks though.

I'm sorry I haven't gotten around to posting more. It will be harder because my APUSH exam is coming up the first week of May so I need to study. After that, I will get more into blogging, short films, design, and maybe vlogging which I have always wanted to do.

Have a good day!

-Meghan :)

What? There's a Sophomore Prom?

As I was staring into space in my AP US History class today, I heard my classmates talk about prom. A senior in my class ask the girls next to me if they were going to prom, and they said no. The problem is, the girls next to me are sophomores. I was curious whether or not our school had a prom for sophomores.

There is a prom for sophomores? I thought it was only for the juniors and seniors?!?

Apparently, there indeed is a prom for sophomores at my school. Maybe I'm wrong, but they say there is.

For me, I don't want to go. I don't want to spend the money and I really hate going to the school's social events. Another factor is I would have no one to go with. The people I would consider going with aren't going. I probably would be the only one there alone. Besides, why do sophomores need a prom? Gosh! I'd rather be home studying!

The truth is, I really dislike these types of events. There is so much money put into this! The people planning the prom and the people attending. How much does a girl spend on prom? I know many of them buy (or I hear rent?) a dress, do there hair, nails, makeup, and whatever! Maybe its just me, but I don't care about what I look like. Don't get me wrong, I do care about what I look like but I don't take 2 to 3 hours to get ready. Maybe I just don't get it.


(I saw at least 10-12 of these on Saturday)

Lots of people rent limos. My siblings and I have a tradition or "calling" limos or "slug bugs" as they come past us. We have to name the type of car, the color, the license plate state, and sometimes the car maker. My younger sister says, "No punch backs!" which I have no idea what that means. Isn't it neat to go in a limo. (Unless you ride in one all the time, then it probably gets boring). I'm used to the black and white limos. Nowadays I see Pink limos. My youngest sister gets so jealous! :D

Sometimes I do feel like I'm missing out on something, but other times I wished I would move on in high school. It is just 4 years. Yes, it is one of our last years before heading off on our own, but isn't school mostly about learning? Maybe it was how I was raised... School is for learning, not for unrelated activities. (Its probably due to the lack of outgoing friends who want to do everything.) I don't know, I wished they had more education opportunities!

Anyway, how does prom work at your school? Are you going this year?

(Like my sister said in this one video!) Peace, love, and happiness!

Meghan! :D