atikin /
Jun 19, 2009 #1
When I first heard the news that I was moving to Brooklyn, I felt overwhelmed with anger. How could I just leave behind my education at a prestigious magnet high school and friends that I had made since elementary school to start all over again? Quite frankly, I had never heard of Brooklyn until a few months before when my mom received a phone call saying that she had gained the position of an internal medicine resident at a hospital in Brooklyn. I begged my mom to let me stay back in Atlanta, but to no avail.
Moving from the suburb of Conyers, Georgia to New York City proved to be a difficult transition. The crowded streets, the diversity of people, and the myriad buildings all appeared so unusual. There were no big lawns or trees or the quiet sidewalks that I was so acclimated to. Instead, the buildings were all packed together. New and unaccustomed to this city, I was daunted by the idea of settling in a town that did not feel like home from any angle.
My parents enrolled me in a private school. This school starkly contrasted with the magnet school I had attended. The students were required to wear uniforms, the teachers were a lot stricter, and, unfortunately, there were no science fairs. On the first day of school, kids gathered in groups to discuss their summer breaks. I hesitated to join in the conversations, afraid of what they would think of me. More than anything, I desperately wanted to succeed in this school and to fit in.
Forced to make the most of what I had in a new surrounding, I grew into a confident girl, seizing every opportunity that came my way. I joined the volleyball team, where I was not only improving my skills, but was also making new friends, and gaining a sense of school spirit. I also became assistant-editor-in-chief of the yearbook staff, where I made friends with a jovial group of kids. I also joined the Math Club and became a freshmen mentor. Once shy and reticent, I was now letting go of the diffidence in me. A sophomore, I did not hesitate to converse with upperclassmen at club meetings and at volleyball practice. Slowly, I realized that the kids at my school were very affable and helpful.
When I first moved to Brooklyn, I was afraid that my new school would not offer me the same caliber of education as the magnet high school I had attended in Conyers. To be sure that I was not compromising my education, I took the most rigorous courses that my school offered. I took courses such as AP Calculus, AP US History, and AP Biology and succeeded, achieving a 5 on the AP Biology test. My hard work paid off, as I was named class valedictorian, and won many academic, as well as athletic, awards.
I found a home in Brooklyn. I realized that there were so many things to do here; probably more so than in Conyers. I enjoyed taking trips to Manhattan on the weekends and walking through Central Park.
My transformation from a timid, naïve girl to a confident and mature individual is proof that I overcame the challenges that stood in my way. I was able to adapt to a different environment and maximize every opportunity I was given. My experience has enabled me to embrace change and use it as an opportunity to grow into a stronger person.
Moving from the suburb of Conyers, Georgia to New York City proved to be a difficult transition. The crowded streets, the diversity of people, and the myriad buildings all appeared so unusual. There were no big lawns or trees or the quiet sidewalks that I was so acclimated to. Instead, the buildings were all packed together. New and unaccustomed to this city, I was daunted by the idea of settling in a town that did not feel like home from any angle.
My parents enrolled me in a private school. This school starkly contrasted with the magnet school I had attended. The students were required to wear uniforms, the teachers were a lot stricter, and, unfortunately, there were no science fairs. On the first day of school, kids gathered in groups to discuss their summer breaks. I hesitated to join in the conversations, afraid of what they would think of me. More than anything, I desperately wanted to succeed in this school and to fit in.
Forced to make the most of what I had in a new surrounding, I grew into a confident girl, seizing every opportunity that came my way. I joined the volleyball team, where I was not only improving my skills, but was also making new friends, and gaining a sense of school spirit. I also became assistant-editor-in-chief of the yearbook staff, where I made friends with a jovial group of kids. I also joined the Math Club and became a freshmen mentor. Once shy and reticent, I was now letting go of the diffidence in me. A sophomore, I did not hesitate to converse with upperclassmen at club meetings and at volleyball practice. Slowly, I realized that the kids at my school were very affable and helpful.
When I first moved to Brooklyn, I was afraid that my new school would not offer me the same caliber of education as the magnet high school I had attended in Conyers. To be sure that I was not compromising my education, I took the most rigorous courses that my school offered. I took courses such as AP Calculus, AP US History, and AP Biology and succeeded, achieving a 5 on the AP Biology test. My hard work paid off, as I was named class valedictorian, and won many academic, as well as athletic, awards.
I found a home in Brooklyn. I realized that there were so many things to do here; probably more so than in Conyers. I enjoyed taking trips to Manhattan on the weekends and walking through Central Park.
My transformation from a timid, naïve girl to a confident and mature individual is proof that I overcame the challenges that stood in my way. I was able to adapt to a different environment and maximize every opportunity I was given. My experience has enabled me to embrace change and use it as an opportunity to grow into a stronger person.