By Mo’Asia Ferrell
Some people are content in life with just “good” instead of better. That person is not me. I was not content living my life being “just good enough” or “just okay.” Instead, I made a difficult decision that many high school students would not be willing to make. I transferred to a new school for my last year of high school because I was unhappy with the school and its operations. I decided to make this life change because it was best for me and my future. My previous school wasn’t a good fit for me. One of my biggest strengths is that I know myself as a learner–I know what motivates and pushes me to be better. The grading system didn’t work for me. I’m a student who strives for letter grades and grade percentages because it helps me visualize what I need to do better, to get where I want to be, and the school only recognizes grades as “pass or fail” with no GPA. There were no tests or Regents exams, which made it difficult to evaluate my academic growth throughout time. I wanted to attend a school that assigns exams to give myself the opportunity to learn from my mistakes and focus on my future studies. Transferring to a new school was difficult for many reasons. My main challenge was meeting new people and making friends. I have social anxiety so going from a school with fewer than 250 kids to a school with more than 800 students made me feel as if I was suffocating. I stayed quiet in the beginning and many of my peers thought I was shy and quiet. I can be at times, but I read the room a lot while quietly observing. I learned certain individuals weren’t for me– the ones who were more interested in drama, gossiping, fighting and things of those sorts. I want to surround myself with people who are motivated and driven because I want to achieve success. My goal is to give back to my community through the medical field. If I’m shining I want those around me to shine as well. It’s been difficult to adjust to a new school and environment, but teachers and friendly peers have made it easier; constantly letting me know I'm not alone even if I feel that way. I’m very glad I took the step to change schools because I see a part of myself that I’d never thought I'd see. I’m actually happy and feel I have proper resources to help me achieve my future plans. My willingness to succeed has made it worth it even though it’s been hard. As a little girl I always dreamed of being a successful person and helping those whenever I can. To finally feel like I have that possibility in my hands is unbelievable. I’ve come way too far and worked way too hard to accept just the “bare minimum”. I know my worth and I’m going to live up to that as long as I live. My journey isn’t over – it has been challenging, but I will never give up. Making this change my junior year is very “me” --I’m a risk taker and a very committed person. Despite the challenges of moving on to a new school, I still took that risk and did what was best for me. Every day kids at my old school would think about transferring regarding their education, but were too afraid to because of the adjustments that would need to be made. I took on that role because I know where I want to go in life, and I felt where I was at wasn’t going to get me there. As I transition to college, I will continue to advocate for myself as I seek out new learning opportunities that will continue to prepare me for a career in the medical field. I’ll always surround myself with those who lift me up and keep me grounded as I continue to move forward. It’s never too late for change.
7 Comments
Marlene Blocker
1/3/2023 12:54:14 pm
I loved reading this!!!! We are happy you are at East and wish you the best as you chase your dreams!!!
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Lynn Girven
1/3/2023 02:33:11 pm
I love how brave you are. Change is never easy
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Linda Dunsmoor
1/4/2023 11:45:31 am
Welcome to East! You made the right choice :)
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Dr. Shaun C Nelms
1/4/2023 04:47:15 pm
Continue to surround yourself with winners. You can make many inferences about someone based on those they choose to keep close.
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Gerald A Tillery
1/5/2023 10:59:26 am
"surround myself with those who lift me up and keep me grounded"
Reply
Ginny Ryan
1/8/2023 05:58:01 pm
Well done! There is tremendous power in sharing your story!
Reply
Ms. Gallagher
1/17/2023 11:29:21 am
Advocating for yourself is one of the most powerful things you can learn & practice. Good for you for doing it at such a young age!
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