Personal Narrative: Berks Catholic High School

So much has happened to me in my 14 years of living! I’ve changed schools twice, made the Rocky Mountain Ballroom team, and met my best friends ever in the 2nd grade. So much more has happened in my life but these are some of the best things! All of these have helped me get through thick and thin. Changing schools the first time was pretty rough.

Last year I moved from Guttenberg to Manchester, which moved me from Clayton Ridge to West Delaware High School. The whole move was a speedy process. Before we moved I only knew 3 people that attended West Delaware and out of those people, none of them are my age. I was upset with my parents for putting me in the position of leaving all my friends that I had finally gotten used to, to move somewhere where I didn’t know anybody. A rush of emotions were coming onto me; fear of losing friends, anger and resentment towards my family for not telling me until they had already bought the house, but also excitement because I would be starting all over again and meeting new people.

After having to play last string my freshman year and then held back from playing on the varsity team my sophomore year, I felt like clouds had finally parted when I received a starting spot on the varsity team my 11th grade year. I was overcome with joy and content because I felt like all of my hard work had finally paid off, but in one failed swoop I had lost everything I spent the past two years working toward. This was the biggest obstacle I have ever faced because I had to get back everything I lost and had to work twice as hard to overcome what could have been a season ending injury. Here is my story of how I conquered my obstacle and became stronger and more determined because of it. After coming off my first start on varsity and an impressive victory against Waco had kept the team spirits high heading into week 3 were we would face Lancaster, our dreaded foes and district rivals.

All my life, I have I lived in Texas and considered it my home; however, I have a difficult time pinpointing exactly where “home” is, considering I’ve moved four times. I am more of a displaced resident than anything else. Being exposed to many different communities and circles of friends, I’ve been forged into the resilient person I am today. At Faubion Elementary in Austin, I didn’t have any real friends there, and consequently, barely remember attending.

I had one defining experience that really showed my transition from childhood to adult hood. I had the fantastic opportunity to participate in a residential high school, the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities, and the first year I had attended this school was my junior year. Going there I had known what I was required of both academically and artistically because I had already attended both of the summer intensives that they provided for my vocal performance. But my junior year is when I had experienced this change into my adult life and when I had left behind my childhood.

I hated it. Everything about it made me want to run away. The students, the teachers, my classes, just everything. I sat alone in lunch and I had no friends to hang around with. I got bullied.

8th grade One cold day in October I was on my way to class when the school had a gas drill, everyone ran outside and lined up by there teachers, everything was going well for me till some girls keep putting grass on my hoodie “stop doing that, also why are you doing that?” after I said that they stops for a minute and started doing it again, “you know that this is boring so just let me do this *smile*” said the girl although it was itchy and made me mad I let her do it till we went inside and since then we’ve been friends.

I couldn’t stand up. My legs felt as if they didn’t work and I could barely breath. This was the greatest feeling I’ve ever experienced. I knew I had just gotten my first high school swimming gold medal.

I was in first grade, school was out for the weekend. It was a calm sunny day with temperatures in the upper 70’s. McKenna, my neighbor yelled over for me to play, and her friend Kari was also there. They were playing happily on her trampoline. They got off and walked over to the swing set to play on the slide, and I started to swing.

School. The one place every teenager gets their ambition drained out of them. Filled with cliques, drama, work, and freshmen. Everyone actually enjoys life until they get here. Joy isn’t allowed here.

My entire life has been me looking forward. Always looking forward and rarely looking back. Learning from past occurrences and planning the next; I have been a sure handed planner all my life. When I was younger my maturity of very advanced for my age, therefore I only had a select few friends. This helped me keep a level head and remain focused.