The Courage of Children: Boston and Beyond XXX

Isla Frontinan
Mary Budrose, Teacher
Proctor School
Middle school isn’t easy at the best of times, but starting sixth grade in a new
school half-way through the year and during a world-wide pandemic takes
courage! Since I was three years old, I attended the same small Catholic school
in Medford, MA, with the same classmates and teachers. Everything about
school up until last week was a familiar and safe routine.
In September, we moved to a house in Topsfield, but instead of starting school
in my new town, like I wanted to, my mom and dad kept me in school in
Medford. Any other time this wouldn’t make sense, but during this pandemic
nothing does. School in Topsfield was remote, whereas my old school was fully
in-person. When I heard that Topsfield schools had gone hybrid, I decided to
make the biggest change I have had to make, and I made the switch.
My first day of school was nerve-wracking. I had no idea if the students would
like me or if I would like them. When I walked into the school, there were two
students waiting to show me around, and I was feeling nervous. I could feel
my heart beating so loudly that I wondered if they could hear it. When we got
to the classroom, I was seated at the desk farthest away from the door, which
meant I had to walk in front of the whole class to get to my seat. I had no way
of knowing what the other students were thinking. A couple of them looked
up at me, peeking out over their masks. For the first time ever, I was glad to be
wearing a mask to hide behind. I sat quietly at my desk trying to blend in and
become invisible. The teachers were very kind and welcoming, and so were
the students, but I was still nervous. At the mask breaks and recess, I hung out
with the girls, and at this point I was starting to feel like I fit in a little bit more.
Overall, my first day at a new school had a lot of mixed emotions, but with
courage I got through it.
The Courage of Children: Boston and Beyond
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