As I walked down the hallway the lights were dimly lit and the rugs were a black color almost as dark as the black light posts dimly lit on my street. As I continued walking I turned left into the room. The woman sitting at the desk looked up at me and then continued typing at her computer. I stood there nervously as my hands begin to tremble. Afterall,I thought she would look up at me and ask, “Good morning. How are you? How can I help youuuuuuuu?” I as the shy and scared fifth grader, look up at her and say in a quiet voice, “Hi I’m here for the shadow appointment.” She’s nothing like Mrs. Smith. Smiling. Always happy and glad to see you. This is nothing like my school. I was standing in the main office on Friday of Lincoln Middle School.

The hallways were always shining with sunlight when you walked through the door. Windows were everywhere and there were always different banners hanging around the school. Every way your head turned there was something saying the shool name on it. There was always a feeling of pride and excitement when you were there. Every morning I would visit the main office and say good morning to one of my favorite people at the school, Mrs. Smith.  She had the biggest smile that could light up a room when she walked in. She was always the same bubbly and happy person whether it was a Monday or Friday. Her red lipstick and pearly white teeth would shine, and her ocean blue eyes would brighten her face. Every morning was the same, I would walk by and say “Hi Mrs. Smith!”, with a response of “Hi sweetheart. How are you?” It was as if school was my second home. Everyone knew each other like family and it was always a pleasure to go to. I knew I was in the best place and surrounded by people who cared and loved for you. Having church once a week with your classmates and being able to come together with the school was one of the most wonderful things to see. Life seemed almost perfect when I was younger. My friends seemed like family and I always looked forward to going to school.

I slowly took one step in front of the other as I left the main office. I turned right not knowing where I was going. The woman in the office yelled in a harsh and raspy voice, “Left!”. Her voice sounded like a smoker that smoked three packs a day. At least it seemed. Definitely not the voice I remembered of Mrs. Smith at my old school.

My head was spinning with so many thoughts. Where was the classroom? Who is my shadow partner? Who is the teacher? Will I be the only person shadowing? I had a sheet of paper in my hand which told me what classroom I was supposed to head to, but I could hardly hold it I looked down at the piece of paper and the words were almost blurred by the shakiness. It said A131 which was the first floor but when I finally made it up the stairs, it seemed like a maze. I looked down the hallway squinting with my glasses on to see the end of it. I looked for the room as the hallway started to become larger as I walked. My eyes quickly glanced over and A131 was standing next to me before I knew it.

Giggles. Laughs. Yelling. All the noises coming from the door were making me sweat. I knew when I walked in all the heads of the kids would turn my way, thinking who is this weird girl? I walked in asking the teacher who I was shadowing with and she simply assigned me to the happiest person I had ever seen. It was so simple, I had met Adrianna and from that point on I felt I had been going to school there for years. I don’t think I had ever met so many people in such a short time and people that loved making other people feel welcomed. It truly was the most shocking experience I had ever been in. All the worrying I had done was all a waste of time.
 
It was a cloudy Saturday afternoon in April when I woke up to the drizzle of raindrops on my bedroom window. I was laying in bed thinking about what I was going to do for sixth grade. My head had been spinning in every direction for months now, trying to figure out what my final decision would be. I had been getting the question from my parents all the time of, “Claire, have you been thinking of what you’re going to decide for next year?” My answer was always the same response of, “I don’t know.” This was the day after my shadowing experience and I had no idea how I felt. I knew my life would change if I moved schools because I would be leaving what I considered to be my second family. I was seeing so many pros and cons in both situations that I needed help from my parents. I needed someone to help me see which one would help me long term. As always my parents were right by my side.

My mom and I sat side by side at the kitchen table discussing the next school year coming up. Enrollment was going to start soon and I knew I needed to decide what I was going to do. I asked my mom, “What do you think would be the best decision for me?” and she responded with “You have to choose what you feel your heart is telling you.” I knew my mom was trying to comfort me, but that was the last response I wanted to hear. It was so quiet in the kitchen because neither of us had much to say. It was so quiet in the kitchen you could hear a pin drop as we both just looked gazing off. The dogs footsteps scraped along the wooden floor pacing back and forth. The sound seemed to relax me as I sat there thinking. Thinking what I was going to do next year.

It was now May and by this time I needed to choose what I was going to do for sixth grade. But it was far from hard to decide, it was an easy yes that made me so excited to know I was starting brand new.