Class of 2024: Interview With Two Blow Pierce Graduates
Story by Joyce Ndifor, Enari West, K’Mari Sam, Erin Calloway, and Tolu Awodiya. Photo courtesy of USA Today.
There is a lot of excitement at the Friendship Blow Pierce campus, as the 8th graders ready themselves for a new beginning. The class of 2024 is transitioning to the 9th grade. High school will provide them with a different environment and new experiences. We adventured to Friendship Collegiate and learned about new programs and opportunities that might lead scholars to be successful in your transition from middle school to high school. We decided to interview two 8th graders, Saphira Sawi and Dionne Bethea, about their thoughts as incoming freshmen!
Saphira and Dionne were pretty confident in moving to a different environment, but they were also talking about how nervous they were to make new friends at their new school. Saphira said, “I'm gonna cry because I’ve been in this school for 4 years. Like, I might be really emotional and I’m gonna miss my friends and my teachers.” Emotions are high for some, as they will be leaving behind the safe spaces that have made them feel comfortable here at Blow Pierce.
Many graduates don’t want to leave because they want to stay and nurture the friendships they have built. Dionne says, “I’ve been with these friends for three years and I don’t usually like people because I feel like it's a lot of drama.” What we can gather from this is that graduates will be timid or hesitant to make new friends. We encouraged them to be brave, because you never know who you’re going to meet on your journey!
During middle school you can accomplish many things that will make you happy and excited. For example joining new clubs, trying out for a sports team, or earning the principal’s luncheon. However Saphira and Dionne say watching Coach Domo win teacher of the year really inspired them. Dionne says it inspires her to, “do anything with what you have inside of you.” Undoubtedly, this event will be a forever memory and outstanding accomplishment for the graduating class.
High school is a great time to think about what scholars want to become once they grow up. Due to high school being a key developmental stage for students, they should be introduced to many hobbies and interests so that they can continue to build skills. For example, Dionne wants to become a lawyer and chef. Additionally, Saphira wants to become a lawyer and child psychologist. Though these electives aren’t offered at Blow Pierce, high schools offer many new opportunities and programs that relate to students' future career interests.
Joyce Ndifor, Enari West, K’Mari Sam, Erin Calloway, and Tolu Awodiya are 6th and 7th grade scholars at Friendship Blow-Pierce Middle School.