When people hear that I transferred from Burton to Galileo, they usually assume it was a positive and exciting change. Some even call it a “fresh start.” In some ways, they are right. I transferred for convenience, to be closer to home, and to make life a little easier. But what they do not see is how difficult that kind of change can be when you are placed in a completely new environment halfway through the school year.
I spent most of 10th grade thinking about this decision. That summer, I was wait-listed for Galileo and ended up second on the list. I had to wait for the winter wait pool to open. Back in middle school, Galileo was actually my first choice, but I was placed at my 5th choice, which was Burton. I found Burton to be unorganized, with teachers who did not seem to put much energy into their subjects. I felt like I was not learning much, and that made me want to try again for Galileo, which had a stronger reputation for academics and teaching.
But what made it hard for me to decide if I should transfer schools were the connections I built at Burton. The friends that I have known for years, the familiarity with my teachers and the campus itself. Despite the school not having much to offer academically-wise, it held a lot more events, such as rallies and had advisory games that were fun to attend, while I heard that such events weren’t too common at Galileo.
The decision to transfer was mostly about convenience, such as a shorter commute and a more flexible schedule. But emotionally, it was very difficult. At Burton, I had people I talked to every day, inside jokes with friends, and teachers I was familiar with. I did not realize how much I relied on that sense of comfort until I had to leave it all behind. Suddenly, I was starting over in a completely unfamiliar place. I felt disconnected and, to be honest, lonely.
I did not expect the loneliness to hit so hard. I thought I would be able to stay in touch with my friends from my old school, and at first, I tried. But over time, we grew apart. They had their own routines and talked about school events, group chats, and inside jokes I was no longer part of. I also did not have much to share, because making new friends at a new school was more difficult than I imagined. Everyone already had their own friend groups. I often sat alone at lunch or walked to class by myself. Socially, it felt like starting from zero.
Academically, things were just as hard. Some classes were far ahead of what I had been learning at Burton. I was expected to know material I had never been taught. I remember on my first day, a teacher asked me to answer a question on the board about a unit I had never even seen before. It felt overwhelming and discouraging.
Eventually, things started to get better. A classmate offered to help me with an assignment. Someone waved at me in the hallway. I began to recognize faces and remember names. These small things made it easier to adjust. They helped me feel more comfortable and reminded me of what it felt like to belong to a community. I started to feel less alone and more connected. I had people to talk to, laugh with, and rely on. That sense of familiarity began to return.
