From New York To Connecticut

By Sophia Seraile Yam

During elementary school, I went to a public school called Fostertown, just 15 minutes away from my house, from Kindergarten to 1st grade. I tested into the Spanish and English Dual Language program and spent every other day learning in Spanish. I was an outgoing kid and loved to talk fast. Then, from 2nd to 3rd grade, I switched to a public magnet school also in my town called Horizons. At Horizons I was in the gifted program, but we quickly learned that I was better off at Fostertown. So then from 4th to 5th, I was back in the Dual Language Program. After switching schools for the third time, I found myself being more hesitant to go out of my way to meet and talk to people. It’s safe to say Covid and being on Zoom for the majority of 5th grade definitely didn’t help. For middle school, I had a completely new experience and attended a private school further away from my house. My two younger brothers also switched schools with me, so it was nice to see a familiar face.

Middle school is a funny time because everyone is trying to figure out who they want to be, which gets messy fast. Looking back, I see how I would allow others to speak for me and slowly, I started to forget who I was. By the time I came to Porter’s, I was ready for a change in scenery and people. During my freshman year, I was shy and quiet and only talked to the people I had already met. As the year went on, I became more comfortable and started to connect with new people. I learned to stop running away from opportunities because it was “embarrassing” and decided to go after what I wanted. Running for the position and becoming an OEI Rep helped to reignite my passion for helping others. But by the end of the year, I was using my voice instead of standing behind other people. I’ve become more open and I’ve learned how to unapologetically stay true to myself, no matter the situation.

The Porter’s community is special because everyone is able to be themselves with no judgment. I’m so grateful that I go to Porter’s because this place has helped me remember to stay true to who I am. During these past two years, it’s clear that I have changed a lot, but it’s mostly for the better.