I came to Pelham High School in November as a new student. I had a hard time adjusting to Pelham because I had just been the new kid two months earlier at another school. Even though I already knew some students at Pelham, it was still difficult because there were so many students who already knew each other.

There are pros and cons of being a new student at a new school. For example, when you are a new student you get to basically start completely over. You can be anyone you want because no one knows you. You get to make new friends, which widens your social life.

On the other hand, you move away from good friends, and that is very emotional. It is hard to leave friends knowing you have to go to a place where you have to make new friends.

All I can say is that I know exactly how it feels to be a new student. I had to move from the one place that I was happiest, only to move to a dreadful place that I thought I’d never end up at. Then two months later, I moved here.

I don’t talk to my old friends as much, but I have made some great new friends. My first few days here were extremely difficult. I didn’t know anyone except one person. I sat at lunch by myself. I didn’t expect people to welcome me right away. I knew they all had their own friends and cliques. Since I didn’t want to mess up socially, I sat through my classes never saying a word, but I finally met new people and now I have a lot of good friends I truly hope to graduate with.

People now see me and talk to me and are a little more open. There have been plenty of new students since I moved here, and I’ve tried my best to welcome them as quickly as possible because I know how hard it is being the new kid.

My advice to a relatively new student would be to be yourself. Get out there and make friends. Don’t make them come to you!

My advice to students already here is to be open to new people. You never know when you might be in that same situation and want someone to take you in as a friend.

Jordyn Boutwell is a student at Pelham High School.