COLL 150 - Experiences from Kindergarten to middle school

     Thinking back to my elementary and middle school experiences, I can safely say were very different. Before I moved to Providence, I used to live in Newport, RI for some time. This was my birthplace and home up until 6 years old and from what I remember, I enjoyed every part of it. The area that I stayed in was really calm and clean and I just remember feeling free. Unlike most people, I attended preschool before I entered Kindergarten. I used to love when my mom would take me every morning for preschool because they had a playground right outside in the yard, a mini kitchen inside, and my favorite part of the day was nap time. 

     I will never forget my first day of Kindergarten because I had started later than the rest of my class meaning at the time I was considered the "new kid". So I did not know anybody or how the school system worked and I just remember coming back from lunch when my teacher started reading to the class and I just interrupted her asking "When do we sleep?' and someone else replied with "We don't" My teacher looked at me confused, but I couldn't help wondering why since I was so used to that being in the schedule at my other school. Then it hit me that this was actual school. And so I went on with the new schedule and saved my naps for when I got home and soon graduated from Kindergarten. I later started the first grade and had friends from my neighborhood who I would take the bus with in the morning. 

     Growing up I was a really shy, quiet kid and always kept to myself. I never started the first conversation yet I always manage to get into some type of trouble. When report cards came home, this was the time we got numbers instead of letters for grades so when I got mines they were always 2's or 3's and some 4's. Everything is all a blur, but my teacher thought I had behavioral problems and that I get distracted easily in class. My mom would get mad at me for this and at the time, I was just really confuse why she thought that because I always followed directions and was a good student. 

     During the middle of my 1st grade year, we moved to Providence where I spent most of my life. I started a new school and back to being the "new kid". As far as the educational system went, it was still the same. However my new neighborhood was different. It's very loud, small, busy roads and there's trash on the streets. I soon became friends with kids in my neighborhood and we would spend our time playing outside after school. 5 years later, I entered middle school. This was a big change because instead of staying in a home room for the entire day, we had periods where we would switch into different classes throughout the day. And just like a typical middle school, you had the cliques and with that comes a lot of drama. Everyday something new would always happen whether it's a fight or a teacher going off on a student. 

     Now, I never took part in any drama because again, I was still shy, kept to myself and there was no need for that. I made sure I was on top of my school work and when report cards would come home it would  be A's and B's so my mom never had to worry about bad grades. 7th grade was definitely a year for me because it was the time I was going through puberty and started learning about the menstrual cycle. I was also in my twilight and Justin Bieber phase and got braces in the 8th grade. During middle I would also take part in school plays and it gave me my first taste of acting where I got to perform in front of a live audience. I enjoyed every part of it and it made me want to pursue it even more. 

     Though I moved out of Newport in the middle of my school year, I think I turned out alright. I got to meet some amazing people along the way and have had unforgettable memories. This just goes to show how much of an interpersonal learner I am because I adapted myself to change and started working in a new environment. From time to time, I go back to visit and I enjoy that Newport feeling.