Starting Junior High School in Baguio

Everything began when we moved back to Baguio City after five years! But this experience wasn’t how I intended it to be. It all started when we made our four-hour drive from Manila to Baguio. It was a rollercoaster of emotions as we arrived at our new home. Literally! The car started shaking because of how steep the road was.

After I got out of our car, the coldness of the morning felt unreal. You could see fog and houses stacked on each other.

I soon realized that it would be my first day of junior high school after three days. I rushed to get my school supplies, clothes, and myself ready.

On my first day, I was anxious and scared. I wasn’t used to being with people I didn’t know, and the fear of change got to me. But luckily, the school I was enrolled in was the same one I attended in 2nd grade. I was one of the principal’s favorite students, which made me feel better.

Our adviser, Teacher Giselle showed the way to our 7th-grade classroom, and the class name was written on the blackboard. There were only five students! I was shocked and happy at the same time because I knew that I could get to know my classmates better. After all, there were only a few of us. We weren’t talking as much as I expected, but being surrounded by welcoming people was nice.

Our first assignment was “What do you want to do after 20 years”. I was used to drawing and finished it in 10 minutes, and I presented it. After 20 minutes, I was bored, and my classmates finally finished their drawings.

Then, we discussed our topic in the grade 8 classroom. I was even more shocked because there were only two of them! One boy and one girl. They seemed so nice and friendly and very approachable. They talked to me for a while.

My first day of junior high school in Baguio was a pleasant experience. It wasn’t what I expected, but I enjoyed it. I learned to step out of my comfort zone and make new friends. It was an unforgettable memory.