Ugh. Changing schools. Some teens are lucky enough to have never faced being a new student. Others are forced to put on a brave face and walk onto a new campus alone.

I personally feared starting a new school this year. At first, finding out that I was changing schools was hard. You know the onset: resistance, tears, silent treatment, and then acceptance. I missed the familiar faces and voices of my friends.

I was thriving at my original school. I was in the leadership yearlong elective, I was a part of Emerging Young Leaders, and I even had a minor role in the school play. I had been accepted in to my seventh grade leadership elective and was confident of the year to follow. But plans changed that summer. That was the summer all the foundation I built for myself was flipped upside down. I was scared of the fresh start and instability that came with switching schools. Would I still be a straight A student? Would kids like me? What if my teachers hate me? The uncertainty made me anxious and only worried me more.

The first day was the hardest. I spent most periods blinking back tears and devoted my lunch hiding out in the bathroom after being embarrassed of sitting alone. But I realized it wasn’t so bad. Most people were really nice and the teachers were great. I was going to be fine.

Turns out, many other students went through similar experiences and it worked out pretty well.

“I started in the middle of the year and I didn’t know anyone. It was hard at first because I had no friends and the teachers were all very different. But it got easier, I made a bunch of new friends and have one of the best teachers I think I will ever know,” said seventh grader, Jackson R.

“I think the hardest part of changing a school is gaining enough courage to put yourself out there. Everyone was already so nice and multiple people became friends with me on my first day. After having a few friends, I really gained my confidence,” said Kyla M

While it will be hard at first, if you gather all the strength you can, things can make a turn for the best. To be truthful, starting a new school was rough for me. I walked onto my new campus thinking this would be the worst year ever. But I quickly made so many friends and learned a lot from that experience. I don’t think it will be easy, but I am almost certain it will be alright.