School, volleyball, homework, sleep. School, volleyball, homework, sleep. That's more or less been my life since the beginning of school. 

Sounds boring? You're wrong.

Everyday is a new experience. New faces to see, new people to eat with, new ideas to learn. Being on the varsity volleyball team has definitely been a plus as well. I never once dreamed of even talking to the seniors, let alone getting rides with them to practice or actually going over to their houses just to hang out.

But this idea of high school has changed, as has almost every other thought I've had about SJND. Before school started, I assumed it would be no different than where I had been before, just another place I had to be, keeping me from everything I wanted to do. However, this year, school has actually turned out to be a place I wanted to be (I know, I know. This surprised me, too.) 

In every class, from freshman religion to honors biology, I'm being pushed and challenged. Not only is this pressure coming from my teachers, it's coming from other kids in the class as well. This is something I haven't experienced much of in my past years of school. 

Yes, of course, homework is rarely an exciting activity, but it isn't unbearable either.

I wish there was a teacher I could complain about or a class that I just can't stand to make this seem more realistic. But, the truth is, I LOVE every aspect of high school so far.

Phoebe wrote this as a freshman, during her first weeks of school at SJND.