The Long Journey

This school year was my very last at School of Arts and Sciences, (S.A.S.) This school was much like a safe haven to me as it was, let me put it, "Hippie Dippy!"

I was attending Tallahassee Day School, another "Hippie Dippy" school who’s motto was "Peace and Love", but it was time for me to move up in schools. we found a loving school starting at kindergarten threw 8th grade. The school was supposed to open... but due to some delays... it didn’t. a quick alternative plan was put into action and I was placed in Astoria Park Elementary, a public "non-hippie" school. S.A.S. finally opened in fall of 1999 and my mom and dad placed me in the tiny Charter School of about 200 kids. I had about 20 kids in my class and it was better then the previous year at Astoria Park. My class instead of 1st-3rd graders as the school believed kids of all ages should work together. My teachers names where Ms. Mary, a always happy lesbian teacher, and Ms. Carly, the mean very strict teacher. the school year went great! we were glad we had found such a caring school. I met two friends Haven Mills and Blair Crumpler we traveled with each other through out the years.

Then it was time for intermediate! I was a big kid now and I had everything going for me. I entered Ms. Kathy's and Ms. Hook's class with my two best friends. now my class ranged from 3rd-5th graders. Threw out the years we changed teachers and classrooms but no matter what Haven, Blair and I were always together. we had grown together and I didn’t know what life would be like with out them. We considered ourselves a triangle of girls. there was usually some sort of disagreement or fight but it had its way of working its self out. when we were in 5th grade we were at the top of the class, you may even say we were popular. Next we were off to Middle School!!! Then Blair told us of how she was going to attend deer lake for middle school and this was her last year at S.A.S. it was the end of the triangle and even though we stayed in touch at first, now it seems as I hardly know her.

Middle School was the top of the food chain. me and haven entered 6th grade feeling powerful as ever. but to our surprise 8th graders hate little 6th graders who think they're all that. At first I didn’t have so many friends and the year seemed disappointing. but then I made friends with Ariel Ryals-Trammel, I changed myself to fit in with her crowd. I started to lose my tight friendship with Haven and she noticed!! many conflicts came up and it seemed we had completely slipped away from each other. I started dating anyone who at the least bit seemed interested. I became super preppy and Haven stayed herself. at the end of 7th grade things became better and me and Haven we friends again, but it wasn’t the same. but now I was ready for 8th grade! the very last grade till high school.

8th grade started as I expected, I knew all about S.A.S and had all the friends I could ask for. But I started to mature and I wasn’t so preppy. In September I started dating Sebastian Robertson and at first I considered this another guy I would dump in 2 months or so, but to my surprise I stayed with this amazing boy all through out our last year at S.A.S. and we've been dating for 9th months, so far. I kept my Best Friend Ariel but lost all my friends who liked me only for the clothes I wore. i had changed myself for the good and i felt oldder. Soon me and Haven were Best friends agian. Sebastian help me the most that year and I was devastated when I heard we would not be attending the same high school.

graduation arrived and I couldn't believe I had been at S.A.S from the very beginning. I held my own flower and paper and released I had done it. I had survived growing up. Haven (our President for 8th grade) said a speech and made me cry so hard. "we are done with S.A.S" she said as she held tears back. at that line I realized how much S.A.S. had offered me.

it is now currently summer and I am scared of high school. I still cry at the thought that I will not see Haven or Sebastian at the high school I will be attending. (LEON) I will have my best friend Ariel at Leon and I’m glad we are such great friends. My greatest fear of high school is changing, I don’t want to change or any of my friends to change and us not be able to stay together. I cant believe I don’t go to the school of Arts and Sciences anymore.

Thanks S.A.S. for the best education and environment a school could offer!