this is my sophomore year in Sunset Park High school.
I remember when I first started, I was so nervous,
I stressed out a lot at that time I believe,
no matter what I did in middle school, either good or bad.
High school was a fresh new start from me.
If I could go back in time to when I was a new student entering
SPHS
I'd tell myself to expect to be taken in with open arms because
when entering high school I thought that I'd be all on my own
and that I'd have to learn how to transition from middle school
to high school, all by myself.
But fortunately that was not the case.
I remember the first day of advisory I was able to meet a lot of
new students and as time progressed I developed authentic
relationships with each and every one of them.
These genuine relationships with my teachers has helped me and
has motivated me because they have always been there for me and
they have believed in me and my potential.
Even when I didn't believe in myself,
I remember when I took the living environment mock regents,
I failed it and it was absolutely horrible,
but I wasn't ready to give up either.
I worked three times harder than usual and finally I passed my
regents with a really high score and also received a lot of
support from my teachers and honestly my teachers are the ones
that appreciate the most in school without their help.
I wouldn't have come this for teachers are very helpful and
supportive, but so are the students.
we are very united when you belong to a community.
You really get the opportunity to bond with the students there
SPHS also offers a bunch of college now courses so you can get
that college experience.
I also want to mention the how Sunset Park gets a free space
for every one of us because let's say if you want to start a
club, all you gotta do is talk to someone,
talk to an adult, talk to your guidance counselor,
that's all you gotta do.
This will help you build leadership skills because you're gonna
lead your own club. I remember my coach, her name is Miss Green,
she really motivated me to learn how to play soccer because it
was my first time playing soccer and they're also other
activities and clubs such as Reading for Justice and Green team
After school activities have also been a big part of my overall
high school experience.
I was in dance troupe, vocal troop, leader troop, Sunset leaders,
cheerleading, volleyball and all these clubs that I've joined,
they all really helped me and my high school experience become
10 times easier and 10 times more exciting. Along with that
I feel like Sunset Park is really great with culture relation
because our,
our Sunset Park provides us pray your time and prayer space for
our muslim brothers and sisters.
I was also part of immigration justice now,
which is a club for anyone, um,
to help undocumented people immigrants and make them feel
welcome. We're really about inclusiveness with these clubs.
I was able to meet other students from different communities,
different grades,
and I got to meet students that had similar interest that I did
now, being here in three years in Sunset Park High School.
I really thank my eighth grade self for choosing to come to this
school, people call it Sunset,
but I call it Sunrise because it's a place for us to rise up and
be ready for future, you know,