07-04-2021, 07:46 PM
Chapter 80
I was heading to the lunchroom. My first day at school so far sucked big time. We had to go to homeroom to get our schedules and sort out any problems there might be. Most of the other students looked more local to the neighborhood where this school was. That isnt really a good thing either. So far there has been nobody I even knew in homeroom.
My elementary school was in a newer neighborhood. The school was actually brand new last year. Previously it was a few blocks away at the edge of where the neighborhood had first started developing. Mostly older homes and areas that had one time been fields for crops and planting. Over the years land had sold off and no longer a farm or rural community.
Not that homeroom has anything to do with any other part of my actual classes, but figured there would be someone I knew. The school is more than double the size of my elementary, but very surprised there was not a sole in this classroom that likely lived over the other side of town where I come from. Most of the other guys looked like they belonged to gangs, more or less like what I have seen in the movies.
It was not until lunch that I finally saw some of my friends. Steve, Jon Pardue, and David Stinson. I had shared a locker with Jon Pardue last year. David was someone I had known for a while. We found each other and decided to sit down together. So how are you liking it already today? Steve was in good spirits and going on about wood shop.
Geez Steve, so far none of my classes has anyone I know. My first class is Drafting, It is right across the hall there. I motioned my arm in front of me to the cafeteria doors. The lunchroom is on the same floor as most of the shop classes.
My next classes are English and Math. Naturally they are at opposite ends of the school. Now time to eat some of this slop on my plate. Well my lunch is a green mystery meat burger and fries. The cheese looks more like a piece of melted plastic than an actual slice.
Dont know what to tell you man. Then Steve goes on to name a good half dozen students we both know from last year in his classes so far. Show me your schedule. Maybe we have a class together later today. After all four of us exchanged schedules, I didnt see anything the same on mine. Oh well, this might just suck for the first semester.
Most of my classes has AP next to them. David asked what the heck was that about? I didnt really know. Then Jon pops off informing everyone that is for Alternative Program. Thats the classes for those retarded kids that ride to school on the short bus. This did get me to thinking as to why I didnt know anyone else in the classes so far.
At first I sort of panicked. Because in English class there was a girl sitting in front of me that had a huge head. Her name was DeAndra, and she was really nice to me. But it was difficult not to stare at how big her noggin was. I mean like a balloon head. The others in my class didnt seem to fit the normal groups my age I was accustomed to and expecting to see today.
Hey guys, let me see all of your schedules again. Looking over them there was a big difference between theirs and mine. They had math class and I had AP Algebra I. I was scheduled for AP Biology, and their schedules put them in Physical Science. I was taking AP English II and they all had English I. The only class that was not different was American History.
Then Jon Pardue tells me these are the same classes his older brother took last year in ninth grade. So now you are saying they are not the retard classes? I was asking seriously out of complete confusion. Well my older brother does act retarded some times, but no. Maybe your schedule is messed up or something?
I decided to head up to the counselors office while there was some time left in lunch. Hey, see you guys later. Steve catch you after school when mom will pick us up, K? Yea man I will see you out front when school is over. I bolted out the door and headed up the first flight of stairs looped around, then the next set going up. I made a hard right, in the very long hall and took another half set of stairs down, then finally towards front of the school. I found the counselors office right next to the attendance office.
It took a few minutes in the waiting room, but finally got the chance to ask what was up with my schedule. She pulled my records, looked everything over and checked my schedule to confirm what I was inquiring about. Is there a problem son? I was just curious if my schedule was correct. It was just that none of my friends have any of the same classes that I have.
After looking over several things, she mentioned that I was in the Advanced Placement classes. I was basically taking the next higher grade level classes, but only with students that also met the required criteria. I asked her what that actually meant, since it is even more confusing than before.
She went on explaining these classes were only for students scoring above a certain level on their scholastic testing. I was placed there because of my test scores. The same test all students take every year. She asked me if I thought there was a problem with any of this. I did not know anything about it until now. This is the first time I have even heard of any Advanced Placement classes.
She reassured me my schedule was correct. I should take a week and think about everything. If I had any more questions, then get back to her. If I thought I was over my head in these classes, then maybe consider changing back to regular classes. It would not be too late if there was any problem this early in the semester.
After making it thru Algebra I, I was thinking there might be a huge problem. That crap is hard! First I learned how to add and subtract. Then divide and multiply while taking math all thru elementary school. This Algebra stuff does not make any sense to me at all. What the heck is an algebraic expression supposed to do anyway? Except laugh at me.
Right now the only expression I can relate to is the confused one on my face. Thumbing thru this two inch thick book and looking over the pages is making my fingers sore. All of these symbols and formulas are making my head start to throb. Another problem is the teacher, Mr Davis looks and acts just like a drill instructor from the marines. Like those hard core ones they show in the movies.
Finally the day is over. It was a little bit stressful for the first day at a new school. But no real trouble. Just have to step up my game if I want to take these classes seriously. I guess it is going to be my head in the books from now on. Before this year, I could sometimes wait until the beginning of class to finish my homework. It wasnt that hard.
The hard part was trying to stay focused when I was not at school. It seemed the slightly added pressure made my brain work better to get the assignments done. This was usually while everyone else in class was going on about any trivial thing they happened to be floating around in their heads at the moment. I would not always get everything finished, but managed to slide thru without any disappointing grades. Looks like this year all of that will have to change.
I was heading to the lunchroom. My first day at school so far sucked big time. We had to go to homeroom to get our schedules and sort out any problems there might be. Most of the other students looked more local to the neighborhood where this school was. That isnt really a good thing either. So far there has been nobody I even knew in homeroom.
My elementary school was in a newer neighborhood. The school was actually brand new last year. Previously it was a few blocks away at the edge of where the neighborhood had first started developing. Mostly older homes and areas that had one time been fields for crops and planting. Over the years land had sold off and no longer a farm or rural community.
Not that homeroom has anything to do with any other part of my actual classes, but figured there would be someone I knew. The school is more than double the size of my elementary, but very surprised there was not a sole in this classroom that likely lived over the other side of town where I come from. Most of the other guys looked like they belonged to gangs, more or less like what I have seen in the movies.
It was not until lunch that I finally saw some of my friends. Steve, Jon Pardue, and David Stinson. I had shared a locker with Jon Pardue last year. David was someone I had known for a while. We found each other and decided to sit down together. So how are you liking it already today? Steve was in good spirits and going on about wood shop.
Geez Steve, so far none of my classes has anyone I know. My first class is Drafting, It is right across the hall there. I motioned my arm in front of me to the cafeteria doors. The lunchroom is on the same floor as most of the shop classes.
My next classes are English and Math. Naturally they are at opposite ends of the school. Now time to eat some of this slop on my plate. Well my lunch is a green mystery meat burger and fries. The cheese looks more like a piece of melted plastic than an actual slice.
Dont know what to tell you man. Then Steve goes on to name a good half dozen students we both know from last year in his classes so far. Show me your schedule. Maybe we have a class together later today. After all four of us exchanged schedules, I didnt see anything the same on mine. Oh well, this might just suck for the first semester.
Most of my classes has AP next to them. David asked what the heck was that about? I didnt really know. Then Jon pops off informing everyone that is for Alternative Program. Thats the classes for those retarded kids that ride to school on the short bus. This did get me to thinking as to why I didnt know anyone else in the classes so far.
At first I sort of panicked. Because in English class there was a girl sitting in front of me that had a huge head. Her name was DeAndra, and she was really nice to me. But it was difficult not to stare at how big her noggin was. I mean like a balloon head. The others in my class didnt seem to fit the normal groups my age I was accustomed to and expecting to see today.
Hey guys, let me see all of your schedules again. Looking over them there was a big difference between theirs and mine. They had math class and I had AP Algebra I. I was scheduled for AP Biology, and their schedules put them in Physical Science. I was taking AP English II and they all had English I. The only class that was not different was American History.
Then Jon Pardue tells me these are the same classes his older brother took last year in ninth grade. So now you are saying they are not the retard classes? I was asking seriously out of complete confusion. Well my older brother does act retarded some times, but no. Maybe your schedule is messed up or something?
I decided to head up to the counselors office while there was some time left in lunch. Hey, see you guys later. Steve catch you after school when mom will pick us up, K? Yea man I will see you out front when school is over. I bolted out the door and headed up the first flight of stairs looped around, then the next set going up. I made a hard right, in the very long hall and took another half set of stairs down, then finally towards front of the school. I found the counselors office right next to the attendance office.
It took a few minutes in the waiting room, but finally got the chance to ask what was up with my schedule. She pulled my records, looked everything over and checked my schedule to confirm what I was inquiring about. Is there a problem son? I was just curious if my schedule was correct. It was just that none of my friends have any of the same classes that I have.
After looking over several things, she mentioned that I was in the Advanced Placement classes. I was basically taking the next higher grade level classes, but only with students that also met the required criteria. I asked her what that actually meant, since it is even more confusing than before.
She went on explaining these classes were only for students scoring above a certain level on their scholastic testing. I was placed there because of my test scores. The same test all students take every year. She asked me if I thought there was a problem with any of this. I did not know anything about it until now. This is the first time I have even heard of any Advanced Placement classes.
She reassured me my schedule was correct. I should take a week and think about everything. If I had any more questions, then get back to her. If I thought I was over my head in these classes, then maybe consider changing back to regular classes. It would not be too late if there was any problem this early in the semester.
After making it thru Algebra I, I was thinking there might be a huge problem. That crap is hard! First I learned how to add and subtract. Then divide and multiply while taking math all thru elementary school. This Algebra stuff does not make any sense to me at all. What the heck is an algebraic expression supposed to do anyway? Except laugh at me.
Right now the only expression I can relate to is the confused one on my face. Thumbing thru this two inch thick book and looking over the pages is making my fingers sore. All of these symbols and formulas are making my head start to throb. Another problem is the teacher, Mr Davis looks and acts just like a drill instructor from the marines. Like those hard core ones they show in the movies.
Finally the day is over. It was a little bit stressful for the first day at a new school. But no real trouble. Just have to step up my game if I want to take these classes seriously. I guess it is going to be my head in the books from now on. Before this year, I could sometimes wait until the beginning of class to finish my homework. It wasnt that hard.
The hard part was trying to stay focused when I was not at school. It seemed the slightly added pressure made my brain work better to get the assignments done. This was usually while everyone else in class was going on about any trivial thing they happened to be floating around in their heads at the moment. I would not always get everything finished, but managed to slide thru without any disappointing grades. Looks like this year all of that will have to change.