Most people remember their first day of high school. Most people can recollect that one day of their life, and the story of how it went, in a new stage of their life. I remember my first day at high Arrowhead High School, and how awful it was.

I was excited to go to school, see all of my friends, and see what high school is like, but it didn’t go that way. I didn’t have any friends in my classes, I didn’t know anyone, I was alone and scared. I was too afraid to talk to new people. But what made this day the worst was lunch. 

For almost a week, I sat by myself in silence, with no one to talk to, in complete solitude. All I could do was eat and stare at my phone and text my dad. It was awful. But that changed when I went to see Mr. Stuber.

I had never met him before. I knew he was my school counselor, so I thought he could help. I emailed him about changing my lunch hour, and within a few hours, he responded: “Of course, come down tomorrow morning and we’ll see what we can do.” 

The next morning, I went to his office where he politely greeted me and invited me in. He seemed like a normal guy, dressed in casual clothing and tennis shoes. His polite grin beamed and made me feel safe.

As I sat, we talked about how things were going with school and my experience including my problems at lunch. I liked him instantly. Not only because he was polite and kind, but because he treated ME like an actual person—not just another student. He listened to my problems. I explained to him (through tears) that I had no friends in my classes and I was having trouble making new friends. 

He had me list all the names of my friends from middle school. When I finished, he was shocked that none of them were in my lunch hour. He explained to me that normally counselors don’t switch lunch hours, but he deemed my situation needed a change. So he switched my lunch hour and I was able to see my friends at least once a day. It made me so relieved to know I’d actually get to talk to people during the day. 

Ever since then, Mr. Stuber would stop me when he saw me in the hall and have conversations with me. He treated me like one of his good friends. If it weren’t for Mr. Stuber, I would not be who I am today. I wouldn’t have had the confidence to meet new people or be myself. I wouldn’t have wanted to go to school, knowing there wasn’t anyone I felt comfortable with.  But thanks to Mr. Stuber, he was able to change all of that. The experience shaped me into who I am now. And I am forever thankful.