Do you ever thin about how many choices we, as Americans, have to make a day? Let’s narrow it down a bit, how many choices a minute? Well, for one if you are reading this, that’s a choice, rather or not to continue, that’s another. There are never ending possibilities!
A little over a year ago I made a choice that I didn’t think much about, little did I know, that one choice was about to change my whole life, and it was by far one of the best ones I’ve made yet! I remember sitting in class, talking to John-Michele about work and being called out to gather all my stuff and turn my books in. Walking down my freshman hall looking at the floor trying to memorize every crack and dent, counting the footsteps to my locker, “Hey, Halie, is it time?” Without having to look up I answered Tess, “Yeppp…” I drug out. “Alright need help taking your books back?” she asked sympathy and genuine friendship in her voice. “Not really, thank you though.” I sighed before finishing “The office just told me to bring them into the counselors to check them back in.”
Freshman year was an insane, hectic, mind-boggling year for me, my mid-second semester I needed something to give. Everyone here knew; knew what my “home life” was like at the time, and how everything had been, before the big change. My mom was re-married now, so things were different, but people still treated me like I was an outsider because of what I dealt with every waking moment. Life seemed to be improving everyday at home, but school: that’s another story. I was a nervous wreck, shaking and talking way to fast, if at all. Thankfully, Tess, my best friend from childhood was there to help me through everything.
Thing had become tricky, my mother and principal had grown up next door to each other, and so, there was my first problem. My second was the fact that I didn’t talk much to anyone but Tess so all the other cheerleaders thought I was “stuck-up” I was given crap for that all year. Once my cheer sponsor joined in on the “fun and games” thing got ugly. My mom went to talk to my principal about it, knowing they never really had got along, and they ended up in an argument from a long time ago! Words of hatred were shared then received back and forth they went one for about a week. I finally started looking for away out of this crazy small-town, everyday after school I would search for houses. A few times I almost was stricken lucky, in Orange Grove, Odem, and Portland. There was always something wrong, rather it was a “t” not crossed or an “I” not dotted.
Tess was the one who gave me the idea to ask my grandmother to allow me to move in with her and go to Portland as a transfer. The day I had the courage to ask, was the day I was told, I was going to be moving in with her. If I wanted out of Ingleside then I’d have to go to Aransas. I really did not want to go. I cried because so many people I knew who lived there said they hated it, so I thought it was going to be terrible! I mean, they even had uniforms!!!
Eventually I gave in and decided I was going to try to make the best of my situation and what I had at hand, so I did exactly that. I tried making friends, something I absolutely despise doing, but found it pretty simple. Now I can actually say I’m a student at A.P.H.S. and I enjoy school again! I have made some of my life-long friendships here along with a new start. Not just by whom or what happened or what I did, but a choice that was allowing me to have fun and be a kid again. Something I greatly missed and now have. It’s all because of that one choice. So next time you make a huge choice, or even a small one, think it through both good and bad possibilities because you never really know how things will turn out.