Just ask!

Hello fellow classmates, this came up really fast….I didn’t expect these years to by so fast even when the Seniors that told us that when we were first shown the school told us it would. I’d like to take a few minutes just to talk about how this school has helped me grow as a person. My biggest problem has always been anxiety. Ever since I can remember I’d get nervous doing very simple things like going into a store, seeing family and pretty much anything you could possibly imagine. It’s been a horrible problem I’ve always had to deal with and it made school more specifically very difficult to do. Middle School is a good place to start with this. I remember back in 6th grade when I was first brought up to the Middle School and was shown the Day Treatment Program, it was a place where kids with problems like mine and other various things could go and get the assistance they needed. I walked in with my mom and approached the room and my mind was all over the place..with questions like “Who is going to be there?” “How many people will be there?” Will they think I’m weird?” “How long will this take?” All of those questions and more raced through my mind as I got closer to the room. Finally me and my mom got there and we went inside, I was too terrified to even come out from behind my mom let alone talk to anyone. Over time I got used to the room and I was okay with it. That’s how things used to work with me, well they still do, but I’m far better with it now than I used to be. I somehow made it through Middle School and by the end of that I’d say I was better with dealing with Anxiety. It was still a huge obstacle to me because I had such a hard time asking questions to the teachers I was in class with. I’d normally wait until I went back to my home room and would ask someone in there if they could help me with my work because I was more comfortable with them than others.

Once I came up to the High School I didn’t have that crutch so to speak where I felt safe to ask things and classes were very hard for me to do. I was so afraid to ask questions because I didn’t’ want to sound stupid, but I had a lot of people try and support me and get me to ask those questions when I needed to. Mr.Luchini, Mr.Dennis, Mrs.Bauer, Mrs.Federico and Ms.Chick to name a few all made it a point to make me feel welcome along with all of the other staff members I came in contact with and always told me that if I needed to ask something they were available to do so. Of course with how I am I still felt nervous to do it because I don’t like feeling like a burden to anyone, but over time I would ask off and on and get answers which would help me finish my work. There were those times where I would still be too afraid to ask because I felt like it was obvious and I’d look stupid to ask, but I was always supported in those times by staff and even my parents who said that if I have a question just ask; we are here to help. That kept slowly breaking away at my shell and over time I went from barely asking questions to if anything not stopping. I’ve always been told that when I’m nervous I don’t speak but if you know me I won’t shut up. By the end of High School I’ve gotten so much better. I won’t stand here and say I have no anxiety problems and that I can simply ask any question when it comes to mind or anything like that, but I know that what this school and staff have helped me with has changed my life forever. I’ll always remember in my head if I’m scared to ask something that I need to ask it and to not be afraid. This school is what got that into my head. So although my anxiety is not gone it has sure gotten better and I cannot thank the staff and everyone else who helped and encouraged me to ask those questions when I was afraid enough doing that has changed my life and only for the better.

If you should learn one thing it should be to make sure you ask questions! I still have a hard time with it sometimes but one of the best things I did was start asking questions when I feel I need to. It’s better to ask and know versus not asking and not knowing or possibly not getting an assignment done. Know that the teachers are here to help and they want you to ask them questions so please for your sake….ask questions!

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