Hello everyone! This book is about my educational experience starting from kindergarten going until college. I talked about a few of the memories I recall from my earliest time in school and how that impacted my life as an adult and college student. School can be nerve-wracking for some people; trust me, there were many moments when I had the same fear at the beginning of the school year. However, as a student, you gain new perspectives on things, meet many people, and acquire memorable experiences. Your educational experience can play a critical role in your life, so it's all about making the most of your time! 

The start of my educational experience happened at Skaggs Elementary in Plano, Texas, where I grew up. I was six years old when I started attending Skaggs, and I was only at this elementary school for kindergarten, first, and second grade. Kindergarten is difficult to recall, looking back as an adult now. The things I remember most were nap time, playing outside for recess, and an occasional activity or two. Some students were there all day, while others were there for half of the day. As a young child, I was envious of the students who were able to go home early and be with their families. 

This is me in Kindergarten! I wasn't the biggest fan of picture day, so that's why I look scared in this picture.

First grade was much different than kindergarten. In this grade level, we transitioned into more extended work periods to grow our knowledge. Most of our assignments weren't challenging, rather fun and interactive. Most of the memories I have from 1st grade are the arts and crafts activities we would complete. I believe this was the first moment where we were introduced to saving our artwork in a portfolio. At the end of the year, looking back on our work and seeing the progress we made was astonishing. It didn't occur to me, in the moment, how much we were evolving in our work, but I am glad our art teacher had us hold on to the incredible creations we made throughout the school year. 

Going into 2nd grade was also a huge adjustment from first grade. My teacher was quite strict, and at the time, I was continually getting into trouble for not submitting work or talking in class. Due to the struggles I faced during 2nd grade, I don't recall much of my education during that time. From what I do remember, we focused heavily on typing skills, and we would have the opportunity to go to the computer lab once or twice a week. It was always exciting getting outside of the classroom and in a new environment doing something beyond paper and pencil work. Working in the computer room so often led me to develop a relationship with the teacher who monitored the room. So whenever we would go in for typing practice, I would always engage in a conversation with her, and occasionally she would give me extra time on the computer. The computer room was always an enjoyable time, and there are many memorable experiences from there that I now have to look back on when thinking about my educational background.

Then

Now

After spending three years at Skaggs Elementary, I was moved to a school much closer to my home. This school was named Haun Elementary, and this is where I began 3rd grade. Starting in a new school was challenging for me because I left all of my old friends and teachers behind. I did not know anyone, and most of the people in classes already had groups of friends. As the school year went by, I eventually met Julia, who became one of my best friends and introduced me to many new people. 

Looking back on my educational experience in 3rd grade, I remember partaking in many fun activities. One of these activities involved us, the students, creating and designing a board game. It was a big project that we had to complete, and once we finished our creations, everyone in the grade level had the opportunity to go around the gym and play the games. This was one of my favorite moments of 3rd grade because it was exciting to develop my own board game, play games, and see what everyone else designed! 

As I entered the fourth and fifth grades, I felt more comfortable being at Haun Elementary. At this point, I made many new friends and adjusted to the systems and routines my teachers put into place. While socially more enjoyable than third grade, academically, I fell behind most of my peers in social studies and science. The content was difficult to understand, and with the amount we were learning, by the time I caught up on one topic, the teacher had already moved onto the next. Throughout this time, it was a constant battle to continue doing my work and submit things on time. Thankfully, while this was happening, our teachers prepared many entertaining activities that got us outside the classroom and in the environment, which helped keep me motivated to continue. I was ready to give up in many instances, but I pursued the remaining work I had left and ended up going to the next grade level.