Getting Into High School

Getting into High School in Jamaica

I was sitting at my desk, waiting on my results to see what high school I was in. As I was waiting I was scared as a bat, wondering if I got into a good school or not. Suddenly I heard my friend Jody begin to yell my name but I couldn't hear what she was trying to tell me since the classroom was so loud.

I was so scared that I began to sweat and shake at the same time and I felt that was going to die. I thought that I did so bad on the exam that I was going to attend a bad school. While my friends went up to the teacher's desk, they were so happy as can be. Any thoughts I was thinking that my friends are going to attend a better school while I’m not. They were better than me in some parts of the exams.

The first day of our exams we were so scared because we weren’t allowed to use calculators and also couldn't use a formula sheet during the numeracy exam.

I had to remember the formula for equations, terms and everything that had to do with the numeracy exam. The exam was so hard that my brain couldn’t function properly, I couldn’t remember some of the equations and questions. If I don’t pass the numeracy exam I would have to redo grade six and also do the exams again. I did my literacy exam. It wasn't that hard, I knew what to do and I understood it but for the numeracy exam I couldn’t understand some of the

things.

While I was sitting at the desk waiting for my results, I was thinking If I don’t pass my parents would be mad and they won’t be too happy If I spent another year in primary school. And If I do bad and attend a bad school they would kill me. Sitting there praying that I did so good and that I would be going to attend a good high school so that they would be happy for me.

As I was sitting there wondering, Jody approached me.
“ Ashante I am going to attend Bridgeport High School,” she said.

“ Jody? I said. “ That’s good, better than me, Jody” I said.
I was sitting there thinking at my desk.
“Yeah it is. I am so happy, I hope we are going to the same high school and I hope you get in a good school too,” she said.

“Yes I hope so,” I said.
Jody went down stairs to see Christina and tell her the good news and to see what school Christina is going to attend.

A period of time passed sitting there while Jody left.
“Ashante, you're next,” said the teacher.

“Yes, Mrs.Welch I am coming,” I gasped and got out of the seat.

I couldn’t imagine what Mrs. Welch will tell me about what school I will attend and my grade or average. I thought hard and fast what I might have done on that test again with positive thinking. Is she going to be proud of me or not.? Before I could consider thinking more about what was going to happen, Mrs. Welsh’s voice shattered my thoughts I reached towards the teacher's desk.
“Ashante, I’m so happy for you,” she said. “You are going to attend Bridgeport High,” she said. I was so astonished, and pleased for myself.

I left the teacher desk so jolly as can be. I went downstairs to see Jody and Christina. I approached them.
“Ashante what school are you going to attend?,” Jody said.
“Bridgeport High School.” I said.
“We are going to attend the same high school Ashante,” Jody said.
“Yes I am so happy, I thought that I did bad on the exam and I was so scared what my result was going to be,” I said.
“Yeah” Jody said. Suddenly Christina came out of her classroom so happy and enthusiastic.
“Ashante and Jody, I am going to attend Bridgeport High school,” she hollered.
“We are going to the same school,’’ Jody said to Christina.
“Yeah we three are going to Bridgeport High School,” I said. We were so happy and enthusiastic that we three are going to the same Secondary school.

I was so delighted to see that I exceeded on the exams so I didn’t have to redo primary school and redo the exams again. My friends and I graduated from primary school and then attended Bridgeport high school together. We met new friends and we were still friends. Some of my other friends from primary school came to the same school as well. It was the happiest day of my life.