Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

One of the biggest challenges I faced freshman year was public speaking and meeting new people. I was a relatively quiet person. I never initiated conversations with those other than my family and close friends. It was hard to adjust to the overwhelmingly large population at Lowell, and seeing new faces every day made me realize that I knew absolutely no one. I would be lucky enough to find my best friend in the halls, but what were the chances of me seeing her every block? Quite little.

It took lots of courage for me to break out of my comfort zone, but in the end, it was worth it.

For the first couple of months during my free block, I found myself sitting either by myself or with my best friend. She had made many friends, and I was hesitant to introduce myself to them. Being shy and quiet, it took days of awkward ice breakers to turn into in-depth conversations. As freshmen year progressed, I found myself slowly growing out of my shell. It took lots of courage for me to break out of my comfort zone, but in the end, it was worth it. I found myself opening up to many others. The many new faces I saw in the halls were no longer strangers, but friends that I could actually talk to.

Now that my junior year is almost ending, I realize how that first time I introduced myself to new people has shaped my whole high school experience. If it wasn’t for that one moment, I wouldn’t have the courage to speak in front of groups or approach others. Being out of my comfort zone has definitely helped me grow as a person, and I feel that you’ll never know the outcome unless you try. There are approximately 2,700 students in this school. We all tend to look past everyone in the halls, but do we ever stop to say hello? We pass by the same people everyday, but do we ever smile at them? An inclusive environment starts with all of us, by a simple smile or a greeting in the hallway. A little can go a long way, maybe even help someone else break out of their shell.

-RJ Perez, Class of 2018