(back)

From Elementary to Middle

I still remember the early years of elementary school, where every day was a breeze of naptime, playtime, a little bit of learning, and then naptime again.

It was one enjoyable cycle of pure relaxation. Elementary school was where everybody was friends with everybody else. There was no judging, no exclusion, and no cliques.

Sure, there may have been a slight division between the boys and girls, for the fear of the possibility of cooties, but otherwise, everything was usually simple and laid-out.

I admit, being a girl, there was a certain phase where we'd constantly get mad at each other, but, in the end, we'd still be best buddies.

When I entered middle school, I expected it to be exactly the same - where everyone would be friendly and open. Bluntly, my expectations were absolutely incorrect.

I suppose a factor in this great change could have been the fact that we were growing up. Yet, sadly, instead of being more appreciative and loving, we were turning into close-minded, insolent monsters.

There are many factors that could have influenced this drastic change - to note a few: going hormone-crazy, the stress of schoolwork, and the need for acceptance. Whatever it was completely morphed everyone.

Middle school was where separated groups formed, and everybody wasn't friends with everybody else anymore. One of my best childhood friends would no longer acknowledge me when I would greet her in the hallways.

It was somewhat upsetting, and yet, I've come to accept the fact that things change. There are now cliques of identified groups such as "Preps," "Jocks," "Nerds," and "Goths." It's almost as if each clique separates themselves from everybody else in the world.

It's like none of the people in these groups want to associate with anybody on the "outside." Each of these cliques have defined themselves in some sort of stereotype, where the Preps are considered rich elitists who wear brand-name clothing, and the Nerds are always noted as people who care about nothing but schoolwork.

While I was going through middle school, I also wondered where I was supposed to be on this ladder of social classes. I would walk down the packed halls and simply observe every group and try to see myself in their shoes.

Day after day, I would feel so frustrated because I didn't feel I fit in any of them. If anything, people would classify me as a Nerd because I work hard in school. I would become so hurt, emotionally, because I felt that they obviously did not realize that there's more to me, and they wouldn't even bother to figure that out before going ahead and tagging me.

I will be attending my first year of high school next year, and I do not know whether or not to be excited or intimidated. I am hoping that there are other people like me who simply do not belong in a single individual group.

I want to make new friends and discover the wonders of high school. I know this may be a stretch, but I just wish that it could be like elementary school again, where everybody likes everybody else.

Article provided by