Facing My Fears and Embracing Change
By Samia, a junior at MHS
As you begin to grow, things begin to change. That’s life.
I enrolled at Milton Hershey School in 2009 during my third-grade year. It was sad to watch my mom hop in the car and drive back to Coatesville, Pennsylvania without me. I turned and looked at where I was. Who are the girls I was about to meet? Will they like me? Are they nice? I was scared.
When I met the girls who soon become my new sisters, I was quiet but they greeted me with hugs and smiles. I didn’t know them and they hardly knew me, except my name and that I was the new girl. After a couple short days, I began to open up.
I attended new student orientation, but eventually, it was time for me to go to school. The thought of meeting more new kids, new teachers, and a new school frightened me. I was comfortable at my old school. It was close to home, and my cousins, sister, and friends went there. And here I was in a whole different community that felt like another planet—even though I was only two hours away. I thought, “Did you think you were going to stay that comfortable forever?”
I was afraid of everyone. I hardly spoke. I was scared my friends had already forgotten about me. I was nervous I would never be going home again. I worried my little brother would grow up not knowing my name. I was afraid my family would learn to live without me. The people at MHS already seemed comfortable. They knew their friends and had relationships with their teachers.
But I knew if I wanted to be happy, I would have to step out of my comfort zone.
My first friend is still my MHS family, and so are all the other friends I’ve made over my nine years at this school. I’ve become grateful for every moment I spend walking on the MHS campus. Not every moment is sunshine and rainbows, but it’s definitely something to be thankful for. I see myself grow and change every day, and I’m happy to have my MHS family experience it with me.