I was eleven. I wore a blazer that was too big. "Room to grow into it," Mum said. I stood at the gates of my new secondary school. Everything felt so large. The building, the older students, my shoes that hadn't been broken in yet.
Up until this point the walk to school was from my house to the end of the road. Now, I had a 20 minute walk to school, minimum, if I walked at a brisk pace. Things were going to be very different.
I remember the smell of floor polish in the corridors. My new shoes squeaked against it. I can still picture the girl who smiled at me as we walked into the classroom. Her name was Sarah, and she wore red shoes. She would become my best friend for the next four years.
Today's Journal Prompt: Write about your first day at secondary school. What can you still see clearly?
Think back to your very first day at secondary school. The mix of excitement and nerves, the smell of new books and freshly polished floors. What can you still see clearly in your mind’s eye? Was it the sight of the towering school gates? Maybe it was the sharp creases in your uniform. Or perhaps the unfamiliar faces of classmates who would later become friends—or rivals?
Reflect on a specific moment from that day that has stayed with you. Perhaps it was a teacher’s warm welcome, an embarrassing mishap, or a surprising act of kindness. How did that first day set the tone for your secondary school experience? In looking back, what would you say to your younger self, standing on the threshold of this new chapter?
