I remember my first day of 7th grade like it was yesterday. Everything was so different. Different teachers. Different building. No more strict uniforms. No more church and no more friends.

My first day of 7th grade was the first time I was ever in a public school. My family moved that summer. Not out of state, but far enough that my old school was too far. And from my new house I could take the bus. I didn’t know what to expect. I was so nervous. When I got all the information from my new school I was shocked. It said no uniform. The last time I didn’t have a uniform was kindergarten! I was used to plaid skirts, brown shoes, and shirts with logos on them. I had been wearing that for six years. So I got clothes ready for my first day and prepared myself for what was going to come.
     

Well, my first day did not go so well! My dad drove me for my first day, which at the time seemed like a good idea. When I walked into the school I noticed that everybody was wearing tan pants. Nobody was in regular clothes. I was the only person dressed down! I was already off to a bad start. I went to the office to get my schedule. When I looked at it I was very confused. I couldn’t read it. At my old school, we had 8 classes a day. This was saying only four. I talked to a teacher and they pointed me to my first class, which was gym. When I got to class everyone looked way older than me. I didn’t think much of it, but halfway through class the teacher said something about 8th graders. I realized that everyone was in 8th grade and I was in the wrong class! I just wanted the day to be over, but the classes seemed to take forever. After all, I was used to 45 minute classes! Finally gym ended and I went to my next class, which was English. There were no assigned seats, which confused me. I decided to sit in the back where nobody else was.  Almost everyone at that school had known each other since 6th grade or before, so I didn’t talk to anyone. One girl introduced herself, so at least I knew one person.
     

After English, I went to lunch. That didn’t go so well either. There was always the option to buy lunch at m old school, but almost everyone brought their lunch, so I brought my lunch with me. As soon as I got to lunch I realized that no one had theirs with them. We also had recess from kindergarten to eighth, so I assumed they had it in public school too. I kept waiting for it, but right after lunch everyone went back to class. The rest of the day was uneventful and then I went home.
     

Although the first day didn’t go well, I eventually got used to everything and I ended up really liking it. I made friends who I still talk to. I ended up like public school more than private school!