School
All I Want For Christmas is my Two Front Teeth
It was raining cats and dogs, as the saying goes. My Pal Keith and I were the only two pupils in the school who decided to go outside into that wet, cold, winter's yard and play one of the most violent games ever devised for a school playground. Even the teacher, who was supposed to be on duty, was cosily inside the staff room supping a hot mug of tea and dunking his ginger biscuit into the hot liquid, instead of braving the elements and protecting the boys from danger.
By Gavin Mayhew5 years ago in Confessions
Out Smarted
Tropical island scents engulf the entire room. There are faint sounds of an instrumental band playing from a small CD player in the background. The class is entirely too quiet to consist of students in the third grade. Mrs. Edwards towers before us at the front of the class and gives an announcement letting us know that the “show and tell” section of today is about to begin.
By Samantha Semones5 years ago in Confessions
Cafeteria Crisis
It was high school and I was the new kid. I wasn’t just any new kid. I was the Catholic school kid who went from a school of less than 200 kids from ages 3 to 14 to the halls of teen angst shared with at least 2,500. At least I got to go to Warped Tour and smell grass before I got wrapped up into that but man, I was a young freshman! Practically everyone had been going to school together, grew up together, all knew each other for years. I never seen so many different people in my life. Don’t get me wrong, this school was chalk full of white people. You can imagine how small my world was. I was suddenly walking amongst the bored, expressive, depressive teens doing whatever forever because there was never a whole lot going on that I would some day identify with for the rest of my life.
By Lolly Paige Lennox5 years ago in Confessions
A Stranger in my own School
The year was 1974. I was a rather smallish 11 year old boy with the typical short Afro worn by most African-American children in the early 70's. My parents had recently transferred me from I.S. 59, a junior high school located in Springfield Gardens, Queens, NY to "Mfantsipim," a British-style boarding school located in the coastal town of Cape Coast, Ghana, West Africa.
By Kweku Amonoo5 years ago in Confessions
Culture Shock
As I make my way up these concrete steps, I am overcome with anxiety. A blanket of uncertainty washes over me and I wish for this day to end. It is not my first time being the new kid in school, on the contrary, it is my 4th high school and the third country I've been thrown into in these past four years. A prayer I am far too familiar with, to go through the motions of day number one unprovoked. There she stands, this lovely tall short haired freckle-faced sophomore. With a warm smile and her hands interlocked in front of her uniform, she greets us and directs my parents and I to catch up with the other group of newbies for a tour to then begin our first day. Anxious and now restless, for I have never looked at someone and felt this giddy. If I had known she'd be my wife today, well, I would've gotten out of my comfort zone and mustered-up the courage to introduce myself that very same morning.
By Huriell Jerome5 years ago in Confessions
Missing the Mark: Adventures in Leaving Homeschooling
Lockers slamming, a sea of backpacks and unfamiliar faces rushing through packed halls, and the overwhelming anxiety of not knowing where D wing was located...if ever there was a fish out of water, it's a homeschooler jumping headfirst into the shark-infested waters of middle school.
By WordSmithtress5 years ago in Confessions
How Full Immersion Made Me Lose Confidence In My Chinese
Stepping off the plane to Beijing is a moment I'll never forget. It was summer 2009, and I landed a study abroad opportunity in China to live and learn there for a year. My Chinese teacher had high political clout in Beijing Language and Culture University, so he made sure we settled in before setting off on our adventure.
By Alfie Jane5 years ago in Confessions
Fish Out of Water
Being a native Hawaiian and born in Hawai’i, I was exposed to many diverse cultures, ethnicities, and traditions growing up. The Melting Pot of the Pacific is a label surrounding the islands. So, I am used to meeting people not of my faith, race, and culture. I mean, with white, pristine beaches, eighty-degree weather, and wonderful, natural island beauty, Hawai’i is a destination many from around the world desire to traverse too. But if you have seen the movie Moana, many native Hawaiians have the same mentality as her. If you have not watched it, highly recommended.
By Pono Akina5 years ago in Confessions
Math Geek Party of 1!
I had always been fascinated with math. Unfortunately, my obsession with math made me an outcast with my peers. I was literally the only one who would raise their hand to answer the question. So much so, that my math teacher would ask for others. Well, I did not think much of this until I told my math teacher he had made a mistake in the math. When I corrected him, he was embarrassed and upset. Then I heard the comments:
By A.A.C.5 years ago in Confessions
Uniform Girl
Where do I start? How about wearing a Uniform that is only blue and white, I feel so Unique! I write this with sarcasm. Was I the only one that feels this way? I was forced to go to an all-girl school caused, my mom felt it would help me stay out of trouble. I was in 9th grade in high school and I did not feel like I fit in. I did not like that I won't see any boys in school at all! I think I am ahead of myself. How will I get a date for prom? To be honest, I didn't really like how I look and feel in my boring uniform. I feel the Uniform may have really caused my insecurities. My high school was full of diverse girls from all kinds of races to different sizes/shapes.
By Mariann Carroll5 years ago in Confessions
