School
A Stranger in my own School
The year was 1974. I was a rather smallish 11 year old boy with the typical short Afro worn by most African-American children in the early 70's. My parents had recently transferred me from I.S. 59, a junior high school located in Springfield Gardens, Queens, NY to "Mfantsipim," a British-style boarding school located in the coastal town of Cape Coast, Ghana, West Africa.
By Kweku Amonoo5 years ago in Confessions
Culture Shock
As I make my way up these concrete steps, I am overcome with anxiety. A blanket of uncertainty washes over me and I wish for this day to end. It is not my first time being the new kid in school, on the contrary, it is my 4th high school and the third country I've been thrown into in these past four years. A prayer I am far too familiar with, to go through the motions of day number one unprovoked. There she stands, this lovely tall short haired freckle-faced sophomore. With a warm smile and her hands interlocked in front of her uniform, she greets us and directs my parents and I to catch up with the other group of newbies for a tour to then begin our first day. Anxious and now restless, for I have never looked at someone and felt this giddy. If I had known she'd be my wife today, well, I would've gotten out of my comfort zone and mustered-up the courage to introduce myself that very same morning.
By Huriell Jerome5 years ago in Confessions
Missing the Mark: Adventures in Leaving Homeschooling
Lockers slamming, a sea of backpacks and unfamiliar faces rushing through packed halls, and the overwhelming anxiety of not knowing where D wing was located...if ever there was a fish out of water, it's a homeschooler jumping headfirst into the shark-infested waters of middle school.
By WordSmithtress5 years ago in Confessions
How Full Immersion Made Me Lose Confidence In My Chinese
Stepping off the plane to Beijing is a moment I'll never forget. It was summer 2009, and I landed a study abroad opportunity in China to live and learn there for a year. My Chinese teacher had high political clout in Beijing Language and Culture University, so he made sure we settled in before setting off on our adventure.
By Alfie Jane5 years ago in Confessions
Fish Out of Water
Being a native Hawaiian and born in Hawai’i, I was exposed to many diverse cultures, ethnicities, and traditions growing up. The Melting Pot of the Pacific is a label surrounding the islands. So, I am used to meeting people not of my faith, race, and culture. I mean, with white, pristine beaches, eighty-degree weather, and wonderful, natural island beauty, Hawai’i is a destination many from around the world desire to traverse too. But if you have seen the movie Moana, many native Hawaiians have the same mentality as her. If you have not watched it, highly recommended.
By Pono Akina5 years ago in Confessions
Math Geek Party of 1!
I had always been fascinated with math. Unfortunately, my obsession with math made me an outcast with my peers. I was literally the only one who would raise their hand to answer the question. So much so, that my math teacher would ask for others. Well, I did not think much of this until I told my math teacher he had made a mistake in the math. When I corrected him, he was embarrassed and upset. Then I heard the comments:
By A.A.C.5 years ago in Confessions
Uniform Girl
Where do I start? How about wearing a Uniform that is only blue and white, I feel so Unique! I write this with sarcasm. Was I the only one that feels this way? I was forced to go to an all-girl school caused, my mom felt it would help me stay out of trouble. I was in 9th grade in high school and I did not feel like I fit in. I did not like that I won't see any boys in school at all! I think I am ahead of myself. How will I get a date for prom? To be honest, I didn't really like how I look and feel in my boring uniform. I feel the Uniform may have really caused my insecurities. My high school was full of diverse girls from all kinds of races to different sizes/shapes.
By Mariann Carroll5 years ago in Confessions
Illusion
I honestly felt I didn't fit in anywhere because people would tell me that I am delusional for reaching for the stars.What I mean for reaching for the stars was where I can get and dream ( well now people call it manifesting) what I want and get what I want. It was honestly the most irritating feeling and the most ungodly where you had people out here showing their power where they can dismantle your dreams. It was during highschool and I met this rapper who is now well known and famous . He was getting all his money and it was where I was singing to him and he broke down to me that I would never get a record deal and that I sucked. I honestly felt like shit when I stopped singing and got scared of singing where I knew, in life, it would benefit my household, it would get me to the top and recognize in my family of being an amazing singer and much more. I realize that now that I have the power now to be the best and to be just fine and just do it ( even though I have days where I feel like it won't because I'm forever in my head ,but know as well that I can make it ) I also realize that I didn't fit in because I also knew that no matter what I touched and thought it would turn into gold as well. I used to tell people this all the time even my ex's and still would get delusional,but wasn't able to prove that in their faces . I think now as I grew up it wasn't the point of doing that anymore. I felt like it wasn't the time to do that ever and to just not fit in because fitting in would be where you sound the same to people and people would not see the coolest part of yourself , your heart , mind , your kindness and most importantly your soul.
By Erica Williams5 years ago in Confessions
That One That Never Got Away
Not gonna lie saying those days were the best of my life, cause i know that best days are yet to come. College is still ahead- if this pandemic will let me see it for real in once in this life. But yes, i still got hope that college would be million times fun than school. Or is it just an excuse to miss school little less?
By Neer Bukharia5 years ago in Confessions
I Am Not Proud To Be An Alumna Of My University
I always imagined my college experience playing out like I could be the next Elle Woods or Rory Gilmore. I would run between ancient buildings where students learned from great scholars and books as big as their faces, fueled solely by coffee and a love of learning.
By Camille Prairie5 years ago in Confessions
After watching Guys and Dolls, I felt guilty.....and went in a depressed phase that it reminded me of my high school production version of Guys and Dolls
Last night, I was watching 1955 MGM classic Guys & Dolls on YouTube (it's available free on YouTube) Guys and Dolls (1955) Marlon Brando as Sky Masterson, Jean Simmons as Miss Sarah Brown, Frank Sinatra as Nathan Detroit, and Vivian Blaine as Miss Adelaide
By Gladys W. Muturi5 years ago in Confessions
