From DHS to ACE My Story By, Nikki Andrade

Changing schools is a big deal to most teens. Some like the idea and want to do it. Kids who like change like to meet new people; these kids love to explore and to go outside the border that they live in. While others hate it and wouldn’t even think twice about doing it. They love the environment that they are in. they love their friends, teachers and are very comfortable where they are at. Well I’m one of them.

I wasn’t a big fan of changing schools. I never thought about it and really never had to. I love going to Danbury High School. All my friends were there I got along great with all my teachers. I enter the high school my freshmen year. I loved it and did very well. I also did well my sophomore year. Then came my junior year, pretty much I called it my senior year. All my friends were seniors so you can say we were on the same page. I realized that at the high school I could get away with murder! I did what ever I wanted barely got caught and when I did it didn’t phase me at all. What was another day in ISS?

More towards the middle of the school year my teachers caught on, well level 3 office did. I was in there all the time. They tried helping me out to the best that they could. But still I was not having it. I had a mind mentality of not caring. Most people had no idea, but I did. I realized once in sink in that i’m getting no where in the high school. My friends are seniors they get to leave but I can’t! I had to change as much as I didn’t want to. I knew what I was capable and it was time for me to step it up. I knew me too well. Stay at the high school I would just go back to what I was doing because I knew I could get away with it so I had to go further to make a difference.

After thinking and talking to people I realized I needed to leave the high school. If I really wanted to make a difference in my life I needed to the hardest thing is leaving DHS. Once I knew what ACE was about. I was all for it. It didn’t kick in through out the summer that I wasn’t going back to DHS until the first day of school. Dropping my sister off at the high school was the hardest thing I had to do. Leaving the high school because that wasn’t my school anymore. But after I realized if i’m making a change to better my self ill be ok. I put everything aside and stepped into the Alternative Center for Excellence positive with my head up high. Knowing that this is the right thing to do to make the change I wanted to do.

I got my second chance and not once have I took it for granted. I have made a complete 360 turn and i’m doing better then ever. I knew I could do it. I’m actually in class doing my homework and passing every class! I WILL graduate this year in June 2007 and do WHATEVER it takes. I want to prove to the teachers at the high school I can do it. I still hate the thought of changing schools, but when it’s for me to better myself I forget all about it.