September 1
6th grade: School is simple. A
Okay, hot shot. School is often easy in the beginning, especially in elementary school. Well I guess that I like my attitude.
8th grade: I got a lot of school clothes from [sister’s] friend. 4 days to school
Hand-me-downs. A good 75% of my wardrobe. I don’t remember what I got but I loved getting those bags. I got a lot of my cousins’ stuff, some of which had been my sister’s. Usually by the time I was done with them they weren’t worth passing o or there wasn’t anyone to take them. Do kids still do hand-me-downs? Has it been replaced by Buy Nothing and Facebook Marketplace?
September 3
8th grade: We dropped [brother] off at school.
It’s a weird feeling the first time a sibling goes off to college. Probably more so for them.
September 4
8th grade: tomorrow school
The anticipation of starting a new school is tough.
9th: I had an orientation today. I liked [school], I met this girl named [name]
I was never really became friends with her. No reason, we just didn’t. I’m not sure what sparked the conversation at orientation.
I realize now that I had a few years where I started a new school or changed schools. A lot of bouncing around. Not as much as an “army brat” but still more than most. It absolutely shaped who I am, hood and bad. I’m a loner so naturally I have no problem doing things by myself but I am not afraid to try new things. I’ve seen the benefits and the challenges.
September 5
8th: Today was school. No one said “Hi” to me. [cousin] is going to introduce me to someone.
And so the dreaded year begins. To my classmates defense I was painfully shy and uncomfortable at that time.I was new, recently went through a tragedy and felt different from the others. It was 8th grade, they had spent at least 2 years together. There were some snobby kids though.
I remember that my name was not on the class registration so every class I had to raise my hand and say who I was. This caused all the students to turn and stare. I also got the last seat in the classroom, often in the back. It seems like a little thing but things like that are tough in the awkward years.
September 6
6th: We went to Lake Rippley. [neighbor] got hit by a bat and got 10 stitches
I think it’s Ripley, I don’t remember much about it. We were playing softball with some neighbors and a girl got hit by a bat that a dad threw. All an accident, or course, but the dad felt awful. I don’t know what else we did there. We would do outings with neighbors as we didn’t have family around.
Did I drop grading my days because I was now a cool 6th grader?
8th: Rotton Day! [cousin] is going to introduce me to two more kids
I’m giving me a pass for the spelling mistake, it was a shot day. I still remember that. I left the cafeteria crying. The girls would say hi and then turn, I get it but it was awful. I also hated my classes. I went to the guidance counselor and changed classes. I wanted to quit school.
My cousins were really helpful trying to introduce me to kids. I will always appreciate them for this.
September 7
6th: Today we didn’t go to school because of Labor Day. B
Nope, the grading is back. The going to school before and after Labor Day is a regional thing. In the Midwest it was always a week or so before, East Coast it was always after. I remember being a kid and reading something about September being back to school time, I was mad because it was August for me and that seemed weird.
8th: The girl [name]was nice
Yes, my cousin introduced me to some nice girls who included me in their conversation. I never really became friends with them but they were nice and I will remember them for that.
9th: we saw a nice house
I think I know the house. My mom opted not to get it but it was nice and she may have regretted not buying it.
Wow, that was a busy week during my pre-teen/teen years. The 8th grade days still haunt me. Feeling so alone and isolated. Hating where I lived. So many kids go through this, much worse than what I did, and it’s hard to explain that it gets better. You find your people.
Introverted runner and other stuff 