Olivia Pedrozo — Lincoln Prep Freshman

Emily Wheeler
Editorial Intern

With the anxiety of making new friends and fitting into an unfamiliar environment, starting at a new school can be a daunting experience. As local students Olivia Pedrozo — who is going into her freshman year at Lincoln Prep this fall — and Everett Seay — a sixth grader at Scuola Vita Nuova Charter School — prepare for this upcoming school year, they offer valuable insights for those facing similar challenges  through personal experiences and advice.

Northeast resident Olivia Pedrozo said she knows a thing or two about adapting to a new school environment. Last year, she attended Kansas City Girls Prep Academy for the first time. As she heads into her first year at Lincoln Prep, Pedrozo said staying calm and open-minded is her main focus.

When it comes to starting at a new school, the biggest thing is not to stress, Pedrozo said in an interview. “Friends will come to you naturally,” she said. “Try to branch out, people who you don’t think will be your friends, might be the people you grow the closest bond with.”

She emphasized the importance of sparking conversation.”I made friends by just talking to people, being approachable and being nice,” Pedrozo said. Additionally, she said the friendships she made through sports and playing with a team provided long-term benefits. “I joined volleyball and made a lot of strong bonds there,” she said.

Similarly, sixth grader Everett Seay said he believes starting at a new school doesn’t need to be scary. Reflecting on his own experience, Seay recalls a feeling of acceptance, which was created simply through a greeting from a fellow student. He noted the importance of finding common interests to create lasting friendships.

“Meeting new friends helped calm my nerves when I first attended a new school,” Seay shared. “It was scary, but I just sat down at my new table and another kid greeted me. We started talking and the rest is history.”

Seay advised finding common ground when making friends. “We find something we both like and bond over it,” he said. He also emphasizes kindness when making first impressions. “If you see someone sitting alone, be kind to them; that makes a good impression,” he said. Although he said he feels nervous about this upcoming school year, Seay is reassured by the thought of seeing familiar faces.