As we wobbled about awkwardly, not unlike caterpillars, we had just about enough of middle school. Our world is no longer big enough and we dread to see the same faces, deal with the same teachers, and think the same old thoughts. We are right about ready for an upgrade.

We understand that we may get separated from friends, but High School creates mixed feelings deep under the heart and is looked upon with anticipation and excitement. The first day is awaited with a smile. Coral Reef will become our home for the next four years. The place where we will pick a safe spot, the right friends, and together slowly build our cocoons. High school will become all together, our New World.

As we begin freshman year we struggle to get accustomed. With the help of our new teachers, and through each new knowledge learned, we gain confidence; we feed off what we learn. At times we struggle. We dare to break free, but we soon understand that if we rush anything, only we will be affected, so we sit back and grasp that only with time and an open mind will we ever get there.

Many activities, projects and much homework later, we strangely feel our own wings start to form. With each fact and each smile, with each question and opinion, we start indulging in our new wings. But we know we are not yet ready to fly. Each decision is crucial and temptation is not rare, as we learn we dream and as we dream we grow. High school looks out for our needs and nurtures us, prepares us for the world down below.

As we see our journey coming to an end we are the only one that can be blamed. As we slowly feel our new wings expand, we stretch and flex and feel whether or not we are ready to fly. Depending on how we have let ourselves obtain life for those four years do we really know how much our wings can endure. If we took the hand of those who knew how and where to lead us, if we kept ourselves from falling in the cracks. If we build strong paths, learned all we were taught and with the help of those around us kept ourselves from getting lost; then we can spread our wings and marvel as our colors unravel magically. Only then, will we be ready and whole, will we be able to choose our own flight and plan our own future.

This is the journey we all shall take, and Coral Reef awaits you, welcomes you into the world of choices, the world of new knowledge and life long friends; welcomes you to the place that transforms little caterpillars into strong, majestic, radiant, free butterflies.

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