The first day of school. A terrifying day. Especially in a new town when you know no one. On day one kids were already playing rough in the hallways. Crowding and shoving each other, not even being bothering to consider the students around them. The noise was also distracting, kids screaming, laughing, forcing me to look behind me to make sure I wasn’t their center of laughter. The school itself was another impediment. It was huge. With mazes of hallways and huge  classrooms. All the other kids treading to their classes, knowing the routes by heart. 

I made my way up the stairs, and scanned all the doors watching the numbers increase. D276, D277, and finally D278. There were already students inside, most of them unrecognizable. I made my way to the one familiar face in the class, taking a seat and bracing myself for the first of many lessons. At the end of class the teacher scanned our schedules, asking if we all knew where to go. I didn’t, I had no idea where any of my classes were. But after reading mine she stood up and looked across the room, searching for another student.

“Your class is right next to Lauren’s. Lauren, do you know where to go?” my teacher asked. 

“Yes!” The girl across the room announced, I looked at her and smiled under my mask, I could tell she returned it from the way her eyes squinted. 

“Alright Caylin, why don’t you follow Lauren?” 

“Okay!” I exclaimed, glad to have at least some clue of where I would be going. 

The bell eventually rang and Lauren made her way out of her seat and over to mine which was in front of the door. 

“Hey Lauren,” I greeted her warmly, “I’m Caylin.”

We made our way out into the hallway and I let her lead the way. 

“Are you new?”

“Yes!”

“Oh cool! Where did you move here from?”

“Cranston.”

“Nice! How do you like Lincoln so far?”

“I like it! Although I don’t really know anyone, and the school is a lot bigger than my old school.”

“Yes! I know what you mean; the high school is a big difference from the middle school.  How do you know your way around so well?”

“Oh, they had a tour for students who were new to Lincoln so I’m getting pretty familiar with the school.”

Our conversations had taken us to the other side of the buildingl, finally arriving at the top of the stairs. As we spoke the noise of everyone else seemed to be drowned out. I guess it’s not as scary when you have someone to walk with. 

“Thank you so much for your help Lauren. I hope I’ll see you around.”

“Of course, see you Caylin!”

Being in high school is bad enough when it’s your first year. But I couldn’t imagine being a completely new student, and the bravery it would take walking to class alone when no one was kind enough to look twice at you. But just the small kindness given to someone guiding them to class or greeting someone from a different town and making them feel appreciated can make all the difference in a new school experience.