assignment 21: lindsey angel

Growing up, as I've said in past blog posts, I had the privilege of attending a local private Catholic elementary and middle school, Christ the King. My entire grade consisted of just over fifty kids, most of which I had known since kindergarten. I had always known I would end up going to a public high school, as my sisters had before me, but as graduation approached, I fought my parents to go to Lexington Catholic. I couldn't imagine going to school without my childhood best friend, moreover going to a school with 2400 kids, not knowing a single one of them. However, towards the end of eighth grade, I realized that going to Henry Clay would be for the best. Not only was the Henry Clay Liberal Arts Academy a better established and more recognized program than Lexington Catholic's Exemplar Scholars program, but going to a larger and much more diverse school would make me more well rounded and less sheltered. Now making such a big change was easier said than done. With that said, on my first day of freshman year, I was absolutely terrified and quite frankly could barely keep myself together during the drive to school. The first couple of weeks of school were rough; I made friends but was still considered an outsider to people that had known each other for years. However, with determination, I found my group of friends, the place where I fit in. That experience taught me how to force myself out of my comfort zone, pushing aside my initial awkwardness and trepidation in the pursuit of finding happiness with people who I could actually be myself around without fear of social embarrassment, as I had faced in previous relationships. I will forever be grateful for my parents pushing me to go to Henry Clay, and even more grateful for the friends and experiences I found there.