The air crackled with tension. Awkward stares, whispers to friends. Everyone was too shy to try to make conversation with someone they didn’t know. None of the usual clanging of lockers or shouting could be heard. Just the shuffling of feet, and the rustling of backpacks. The first day of school had never been this awkward. In elementary school, everybody knew everybody. In sixth grade, you were all jumbled and mixed around from five different schools.

The great white stone walls loomed inertly above me. The blinding yellow lockers stood straight and stiff. The steel doors were a jail, trapping you the moment the lock clicked shut. This was not elementary school anymore. No friendly posters on the walls, no staying in one class, and no recess. In books middle school was often perceived to be a house of horrors. Awful cafeteria food, getting shoved inside a locker, detention, and lots of drama. Was it true though? I silently prayed it wasn’t. I swallowed back a nervous giggle that threatened to wriggle out of my lips.

Pushing through the subdued crowd, I picked out the two people I did know: Ellie and Grace. Grace and I went to the same elementary school and had instantaneously become friends in fifth grade when I moved there. Ellie was on my GBC Basketball team in fifth grade and was so outgoing and friendly that we became friends fast. I let out a relieved sigh and trotted over to greet them.

Lunch was in the classroom that year due to Covid-19. I scanned the chattering room to see that everyone had eased up a little. People talked in huddled groups of two or three. Conversing and laughing, my friends and I shared happily about our summers, and what we were hoping for this school year.

Hurriedly, I packed up my lunch, and I noticed something. A girl was sitting by herself in a desk in the corner slowly eating her sandwich. She had fiery red hair. She was average height and smiled slightly at the people around her. It wasn’t exactly a happy smile though. More of a wistful one. I think her name is Kaylee, I thought back to introductions that morning. No one was around her, and she wasn’t talking to anyone. I queried if she had any friends. I shuddered at the thought of starting at a brand new school knowing no one. Deep inside I felt a little sad for her. I moved to Guilderland in fifth grade, and I remembered how I was so afraid of not knowing any of the teachers or students. What if I don’t make friends? What if the teacher is mean? I fretted nervously about it for weeks. I remembered haltingly striding into my brand new school and staring out at the sea of unknown faces. Thankfully, everyone was super welcoming though! I made a mental note to go talk to her later.

It was soon apparent that Grace had been thinking the same thing because after lunch she went to introduce me, and herself, to the girl.  “Hi! You’re Kaylee, right?” she said confidently. “I’m Grace, and this is Emily!”

“Hi!” I said gently.

“Yeah. Hi,” she said in a voice that was barely audible.  I got the feeling she was shy. The heavy steel doors creaked obnoxiously as I pushed them open. A few heartbeats passed as we walked outside to the matted grassy area the teachers wanted us to go to for an activity. The sky, blue and cloudless, brightened my spirits just a bit after a mediocre first day of school.

“What do we say now?” Grace whispered urgently in my ear. “ She’s not saying anything!”

“Just try to make conversation!” I indignantly hissed into her ear. “So…” I trailed off awkwardly. What is wrong with me today? Usually I am great at making conversation! I thought with exasperation. I glanced strenuously around the gravely parking lot and up to the azure blue sky, trying desperately to search for something to say. Suddenly, I was submerged in the anxiety I felt earlier in the day. “Do you have any pets?”

“Yeah. I have two dogs.” I waited for her to elaborate, but she didn’t.

“Well! We should probably get going! It was nice meeting you!” Words tumbled out of my mouth briskly as we hurriedly went to catch up with Ellie.

“Well, that went well,” Grace uttered sarcastically.

“Lighten up!” I proclaimed, reassuring her, and myself, as I playfully elbowed her in the ribs. “I’m sure she’ll be less… reserved as the school year goes on.”

As the day progressed, it got better and better. People relaxed a bit, and I came to realize I had a pretty funny, awesome class. In the weeks that followed, Grace and Ellie kept on being friendly and open to other people. We made lots of new friends fast. As I look back on my sixth grade year, I can truthfully say that it was probably the best school year ever! I learned something on that memorable first day of school. I learned that it is always better to put yourself out there and try to make new friends than just sticking with the people you already are comfortable with, and not knowing about all the other smart, funny, kind, unique people that you might just overlook in a crowd.

 

 

 

 

-Emily W.