Go out there and be the first to say hello by NGOZI

Go out there and be the first to say hello by NGOZI - July 2016 Scholarship Essay

Middle school is one of the hardest points in a kid’s life. Middle school really breaks you or makes you. Elementary was all about getting along, everyone was nice and everyone wanted to be your friend it was a high point in one’s life. The drastic change from elementary school to middle school is like going from the petting zoo to the jungle, every man for themselves. Well that was how it was for me at least. I went to a K-6 elementary, so by the time I was getting to middle school I was already late in the game, people already had friends, people already knew each other and knew the ins and outs of the school. But me, I was like a deer caught in headlights. Everyone looked like grown adults, and here I was still in my child like persona, I just knew I couldn’t make it here. I didn’t want to be in middle school I wanted to go back to elementary where people would actually stop and say hi to me not bump my shoulder and tell me watch where I’m going. I couldn’t handle the pressures of being in middle school, when lunch would come I would stay in my teacher’s classroom and just read a book because I didn’t have anyone to really talk to.

One day as I was sitting in her classroom, Ms. Briano walked up to me and asked why half way through the semester I wasn’t branching out to meet new people. I simply explained to her these people weren’t like me, this school wasn’t for me. Everyone already had friends and here I am the weird new kid coming in no one approached me or even showed signs that they wanted to be my associate. This wasn’t something I was used to, I’m different. She laughed and big laugh. She explained that I was growing up and that although this isn’t something I’m used to, this is an important life lesson. People aren’t always going to be the first to approach you! You have to be yourself and go out there and make connections with people. This is just the first step because sooner or later you’ll figure out it isn’t always about what you know but who you know. I was a little perplexed at the moment, here I am a 12 year old child and I’m getting hit with early life lessons. She saw the confusion on my face and broke it down saying just go out there and be the first one to say hello, or start a conversation and you’ll see people respond to you. You’re young make the most out of your youth and make friends, be an extrovert, be happy and understand that you have to be confident in the person you are and build links early on. To say the least that has been the most useful and best lesson I have ever learned from a teacher. At that moment I internalized what she said and I went out on a mission to be friendly, to be talkative to people, and to make friends and everlasting connections.

As a child I just thought her message meant go talk to people and make a lot of friends, but as I got older I understood the full depth of her lesson. I had to know people to get farther in life; I never knew who I would be talking to and what opportunity would come out of it. It’s better for me to be the person talking to everyone so I would get noticed and move up in this world instead of being by myself and letting networking possibilities pass me by. It was such a useful lesson that I use every day of my life. As I completed my undergraduate matriculation I made great networks that allowed me to get accepted into many top law school programs. If it wasn’t for Ms. Briano I would still be out here waiting for people to reach out to me and give me opportunities that they have waiting for someone to come get it. I thank God that I met her because she provided very useful guidance in my life at the tender age of 12. I am now 20 and her advice and her lesson has helped me prosper into the individual I am today.