First of Many Lasts: Seniors Describe their First Week Feelings
By: Juan Pereira Casanoba
Senior year is an opportunity for students to reflect on their life journey. Each and every person graduating this year was just a freshman trying to figure things out four years ago. Some were a part of this district since Pre-K, while others arrived at certain moments due to circumstances in or out of their control.
The seniors all have different stories, yet the first day of school feels the same. It’s a time for new challenges to emerge and to rekindle old friendships. Alessandra Ozuna spent her freshman year and half of her sophomore year at Fulshear High School before moving to Mexico; she has returned to Fulshear with a new perspective.
“I realized that the school I went to (in Mexico), even though it was a private school, was actually really bad, and I saw that there’s much more options here,” Alessandra said. “Like, I wasn’t in one class with the same students every single time. I had different classes with different people, which was really nice.”
When Alessandra walked into school for the first time this year, the reality of the situation she was in began to reveal itself.
“I was really, really, really nervous (on the first day of school) because I was just like, ‘oh, shoot, I haven’t been to an American school in a year and a half,’” Alessandra said. “I also heard from my friends that things were different here. The phone policy is now more strict, we have to wear IDs, we can’t just go into any classroom we want in the mornings, (but) when I was here, it was (all) fine.”
Despite these changes, Alessandra has found her return to Fulshear better than she could have expected.
“I was glad to see a lot of friends that I hadn’t seen in a year and a half, (and even) people that I generally don’t talk to but I’ve seen them in the hallways… it’s nice to see them again.”
Ahmed Abu Hamad stayed in Fulshear for the entire four years, and the evolution of this school has been very apparent to him, especially because his mother works next door.
“I definitely got more comfortable with the environment and the people, and it was also good meeting new people here,” Ahmed said. “My mom actually works at the school just next door, Leaman. She works with the SPED program, and it’s nice to just see them come on over.” ***
One aspect that Ahmed has enjoyed the most throughout this year manifested itself inside school walls but spread outside of them.
“There’s some really good friends I’ve met this school year. We hang out, we have fun, and study together,” Ahmed said. “If you find good friends, hang out with good people, then everything’s going to be (fine).”
No matter what happens now for Ahmed, he’s had his last first day of school, which will begin a period of many lasts for his high school career.
“I was thinking ‘oh my God, this is actually my last first day; I’m never coming to this school for the first time (again),’” Ahmed said. “I actually really liked this school. It was a really good experience… Everything’s going to have some bad things to it, but I’ve had so many memories here (and) so many things have happened at this school, good and bad…but overall, (this is) my high school.”
