How Student Council has Formed Who I am Today Mikayla Bokis My hands sweat as I open the door to my mother’s car. My shoulder length dark hair is curled, and my face is lightly padded with makeup in order to hide the red face I have from embarrassment. My heart is pounding and butterflies float in my stomach. It is my first day at a new school as a young and naive freshman who knew all of one person at this school. As I arrived at the building, the fear began to take a toll on my body. As I stood outside looking at the school, I notice the size of it. The school itself is not big and although it consists of grades 7-12, there were still under 300 students overall. “I can do this,” I tell myself to try to gain back the confidence. Reality hits as I remember that I am a freshman which means there will be upperclassman. Negative questions begin to take over the positive thoughts in my head. “What if no one likes me? What if I don’t make any friends?” There’s a rush of adrenaline as I walk inside and enter the office. People staring, wondering who I am, and asking Maddie, the one friend I had, questions about me. As I walk to my first class, the nerves in my body begin to scream. I am intimidated by the empty faces surrounding me. The first class went well. I sat in silence while listening to the teacher talk about the fresh start of the new semester. It was the second half of the school year, and everyone was ready for a new beginning, including myself. As the lunch bell rang, I became panic-stricken. “Who would I sit with? Maddie had a different lunch than me. She was all I had in this world.” I tell myself as I make my way down to the cafeteria. “One step at a time.” While entering, I notice several posters hung up with different events happening. “A snowball dance?” I begin to question things but before I could continue to stare, I hear a voice from behind asking me to join them at their table. A moment of relief ran over my body, I finally had a chance. I meandered over to the table with about eight people sitting around it and located the one empty seat available. As I take a seat, my heart begins to settle, and I feel okay. “What is this snowball dance?” I ask the girl to my left. A grin slowly begins to form on her face. I fear I asked a stupid question and wonder why I even bothered. “The snowball dance is like a homecoming but in the winter. The student council runs it!
It is a lot of fun you should totally go. We will all be there!” I begin to process what was just said to me. A homecoming in the winter sounds perfect to me. I need that bit of excitement in order to thrive at this school and be myself. Then I think back to the time she mentioned the student council. “What is student council?” The same girl that once answered my question is looking down concentrating hard on her homework that is due after lunch. A girl from across the table answers back. “Student council is a student run organization that allows students to put on events, spread positivity and ensure everyone feels welcomed.” A moment of blank enters my head. Then I start to think about how perfect this opportunity would be for me. Not only would I make new friends at this new school, but I could ensure that other new students can feel welcomed when joining. “So how can I join?” Suddenly, I hear loud footsteps stomping on the ground behind me. As I look behind, there’s a scrawny, blonde kid standing right beside me. “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you. I heard someone say they wanted to join the student council, so I ran over here. My name is Nick, and I am the current president of the organization. What’s your name?” I begin to laugh in a weird sort of way. “My name is Mikayla, and I am definitely interested. How can I join?” He looks at me like a dear in headlights before speaking a word. Finally, he adds, “You can find the forms in room 213. That is our advisor’s room, and her name is Ms. Malone. Not only is she our advisor but she also teaches middle school science. She is amazing.” A sort of smile begins to appear on my face. What was once crooked has turned into a real smile. I couldn’t believe how easy it was. Not only did I make new friends, but I might have just done something that will benefit myself and the new school I am attending. The final bell rings and I briskly walk to the other side of the building to locate the room. I ensure this is the correct room multiple times before entering, in order to make sure I don’t look like an idiot. As I walk in, I notice a bunch of people standing around the desk like some sort of convention was going on. More fear begins to take over my body as I linger over to the desk surrounded by people. I stand
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