Most of the people in my graduating eighth grade class were going to West Ranch for high school, and I was coming to Hart with only three people from my school. So, coming into high school, I knew I had to make friends, which I definitely didn’t want to do. I may act extroverted around my friends, but if someone tells me to talk to a stranger and become friends with them, I instantly become an introvert. I like having friends, but I don’t know how to make friends.

When I heard that school would be online for a while, everything changed. We’re not meeting in person, so I don’t have to make friends and I don’t have to talk to people.

But then again, online school is temporary. As soon as we go back on campus, I imagine everyone will collect in  groups of friends new and old, but I’ll still be alone. However, this may not be the case. During our online classes, I have met some amazing people. I often have to talk to people in breakout rooms and I’ve had fun conversations with my teachers. I have also realized that there are people from my church and from my elementary school in my classes, and, after realizing that, I see that I will have some friends to talk to when we go back on campus. 

As I look back, I’m not really sure why I got myself so scared of high school. Not everyone at Hart came from Placerita, some are like me and don’t have many friends here either. Other people probably feel the same way I do, and some maybe worse. So I’m not entirely alone, but maybe, instead of wanting people to come to me and be my friends, maybe I have to go to people and be their friends instead. I’m glad that at least I have a sister that goes to Hart. Her friends have promised to help me find people to talk to, so I hope I’ll be okay.