By Emmanuella Gali
When I first heard the news that I would be changing schools, I felt like the ground had dropped out from beneath me. I thought my mom was joking at first, her smile too bright for such a shocking announcement. But when she took my brother and I to take the entrance exams, the reality sank in: this was happening.
The news hit me like a wave of sadness. I cried the entire day, picturing my friends and all the moments we had shared—laughter in the playground, group projects, and secrets whispered during lunch. On my last day at school, I said my farewells with a heavy heart. I hugged my friends tightly, trying to memorise their faces, their laughter echoing in my mind. Each goodbye felt like a piece of my heart was being left behind. It was a bittersweet moment, full of smiles and tears. I knew I would miss them so much.
When I got home, the tears flowed freely. I locked myself in my room, feeling the weight of the change pressing down on me. After an hour of sobbing and wallowing in my thoughts, I decided I needed a distraction. I grabbed my tablet and settled onto my bed, scrolling through funny videos. With each laugh, the sadness began to lift, replaced by the warmth of joy. I ate a snack, and for a little while, I forgot about my stress and pain. That night, I fell asleep more peacefully than I expected, the comfort of laughter wrapping around me like a cozy blanket.
As the weeks turned into months, the day finally arrived for my first day at the new school. I felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness swirling in my stomach as I walked through the school gates. When I entered the classroom, I could feel my cheeks flush with shyness. It didn’t help that I was the only new student in the room—at least, that’s what I thought at first.
Our first lesson was science, and we were assigned to group work. As I hesitantly approached a table filled with classmates, I met Manny, a friendly girl with a warm smile. We hit it off instantly, bonding over our mutual love for animals and silly jokes. She quickly became my first friend in this new place, and with her help, I began to relax.
As the days went by, I found myself making more friends. There was Alex, who loved to tell funny stories; Sofia, who could draw incredible comic strips; and James, who was an expert at video games. It felt like I had been at the school forever. I joined clubs and participated in activities, my laughter mixing with theirs as we shared new experiences. We explored the playground together, played sports during recess, and even collaborated on projects that sparked our creativity.
Slowly but surely, I began to realize that changing schools wasn’t such a big deal after all. Instead of feeling like I had lost everything, I found that I had gained so much. I discovered new friendships, shared laughter, and even reconnected with a few familiar faces from my former school. The bittersweet memories of my old friends remained in my heart, but they were joined by the bright moments I was creating in my new life.
In the end, I learned that change can lead to wonderful experiences. Embracing new beginnings allowed me to grow and thrive. I might have said goodbye to my old school, but I found a new adventure waiting for me, filled with friends and unforgettable moments. Changing schools turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life, and I was ready for whatever comes next!
Emmanuella is of Premier International School, Wuse, Abuja
