4:30 A.M. the blurry, chiming alarm clock read as I automatically reached over to smack the snooze button. If only I could have just five more minutes, I silently plead. But no, this was my first day of high school, and I was determined to get off on the right foot. As I sat up in bed, in my sleep deprived stupor, every last rumor my friends had been taunting me with during the summer flooded my mind: You will have NO social life. Oh my God you are going to Troy? Have fun staying up until two! The anxiety I had kept at bay for two months came rushing back to me. Maybe I am stupid! I should have gone to Ayala! Is it too late? Of course I knew: it was too late, the decision was made, Troy was my future and there was nothing I could do about it.

Still bleary from an almost sleepless night, I stumbled into the car after a rushed breakfast and nerve racking beauty regimen, (I had to look my best!) headlights blinding me in the dark of morning. After 30 minutes of listening to my heart beat a tattoo against the inside of my ribcage, I arrived at school, 1 ½ inch binder in hand. Looking up in awe, I realized that it looked a lot different through the eyes of a true-blue first-day-of-school freshman. I was familiar enough with the campus from freshman orientation to get my bearings and head toward the ROTC room where, thankfully, I found many Canyon Hills Junior High Alumni. Freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors alike greeted me with a warm smile and a wave giving me a false sense of security that maybe, just maybe, freshmen hazing was a thing of the past.

As I went through out my day, from 0 period English to 6th period NJROTC (Sir yes, Sir!) I realized that high school was going to go far beyond my wildest expectations. When I first walked into each of my classes, intimidation struck me like a dull blade. People, teachers, classrooms and curriculum I didn’t know! The students! Were some of them older than me? Then what were they doing in my class? And those teachers! Sure they put on a nice front, but what about when they show there true colors? Mrs. Ngo showed her true colors right of the bat! Her crazy, quirky personality shone out of every orifice; and her unorthodox teaching methods really sound like a unique way to exact act my undiscovered potential. At last, 3rd period, the long awaited rally! As an integral part of every high school, I wanted to see what all of the hype was about. As soon as I took my first step into the North Gym, I knew. Freshman vs. Wild. Freshman vs. Seniors. And yes, my biggest fear, HAZING! The seniors booed, the dance team danced, and the band played as the first rally of the year continued on in all of its Warrior glory. Throughout the rest of the day I once again navigated the hallways, and glanced repeatedly down at my bubblegum pink map wondering where the heck the science building was and why my locker had to be conveniently located in the NJROTC room. So after a stressful day, I was looking forward to the best part- the end. As that final bell rung, I knew I could finally say that I was an authentic troy High student!

After an hour long, sweaty, bouncy bus ride home, I stripped down to my bathing suit a jumped into the crystal clear pool; the cool water a therapeutic relief on my achy, burning, body. While swimming laps and letting off steam, my mom and I gabbed about my first hectic day of high school: the classes, teachers, people, campus and every other minute detail that I could recollect. With my small amount of homework finished, and my syllabi signed, I drifted off to a peaceful sleep reassured that I had made the right decision after all.

So Hayley, what do you think? How much have you changed? Are you a different person with different values and ethics? Whatever cliché you belong to or clothes you wear, I hope your dreams came true. To have fun, get A’s, make friends, and most importantly, BE YOURSELF.