I’ve transferred schools twice so far in my academic life. And throughout, I’ve learned some ways on how to deal with others during the first few days of school. These are critical days because they will greatly influence your social relationship with others for the rest of your stay in that new school. First, you should always wear a smile, especially on the first day. People will tend to judge who you are based on how you look or the way you talk. A smiling face always radiates an impression of friendliness. Next, you need to find a group of friends. Knowing you are not alone will make you feel more at ease and confident. Since most likely, you don’t know anyone yet, take the initiative of asking the names of your seatmates or your other classmates, rather than waiting for them to do it first. They will eventually reveal their true colors in the succeeding days, which is good because it will enable you to decide if you want to stay and develop friendship or just remain as acquaintances. There is really no standard in making friends because a friendship is a magical thing; it’s impossible to decipher how it happens. Another thing, remember to avoid talking about your previous school. Your new classmates will think you are comparing and/or complaining, which is rude and may acquire you some “stabs in the back.” Also, try to be very attentive during classes because you are still adjusting to the whole class environment of your new school. Who knows, you might still need to climb a few more notches up the ladder. Lastly, try very hard to learn fast the school’s culture. What are the terminologies being used, like what do they call the places, or the means of transportation? Who are the teachers you should look out for? Which canteen serves student friendly meals? Knowing the norms of your school will let you adjust quicker and will help you connect with others as well. A change is something not everyone likes because it’s inconvenient, but a change also makes you stretch your capabilities and lets you do better in life as a whole.
One way of dealing with change is to get involved. Getting in the school band is one of high school’s highlights for me. When I was a kid, whenever there were parades in town, I had always admired the bands that were performing with their eye-catching uniforms and the harmonious convergence of their instruments. I’ve always dreamed of playing the lyre, because it makes melody come alive, which basically is the heart of the band. And so, when I transferred to a new school during my sophomore year, I decided to join the school band. But of course, there were no short cuts; I had to pass the auditions first. I didn’t have the instrument at that time, so I had to borrow one from friends of friends. Also, since nobody had the time to teach me, I could only depend on myself. I found out that the lyre is actually one of the easiest musical instruments to play, and it can be learned in a matter of hours, if you’re diligent enough. So I practiced and practiced, played every afternoon after classes for weeks. I had to memorize the pieces also, since bringing a copy of the chords was not allowed. Then, the big day came. Like all auditions, it was nerve-wracking, my head was throbbing frantically and I couldn’t keep still at all, I felt like my stomach was heaving. Pressure mounted because I had to perform, by myself, in front of the bandmaster, the upper class band members and the rest of the audience. I was literally shaking and started having cold feet about the whole thing. But it was too late to back out anyhow, my name was the next one called. I slowly paced center stage on the basketball court. It was really scary at first, beads of sweat trickled down my forehead, my hands were frozen cold and my heart was skipping a hundred twenty beats per minute! Then, I heard myself playing, then kept on pounding those pieces of tiny metal, trying to avoid mistakes while keeping the precise tempo in my head. Thankfully, I gained confidence in the process, and it was soon over. That day, I was one of only two people, out of the many who tried, who passed the auditions and became an official member of the band. Indeed, if you want something really bad, you don’t quit when you are tired; you stop only when you’re done. If you don’t want regrets in the end, against all odds be only the best that you can be and no lesser than that.
Dannel Patrisha Grace H. Hiquiana
