New Beginnings: The Young Voices of Comp Sci High
“As Demi spoke to me about being “the quiet kid,” I thought about myself at his age. I, too, was the quiet kid. But now, after a few years, I’m a reporter sitting in a class with a freshman, trying to help them tell their story.”
Allow me to introduce Omoshehindemi (Demi) Ayedun, a bright freshman student who currently attends Comp Sci High. Why, you may ask, am I writing a profile about a freshman?
I am currently a senior at Comp Sci High, yet I am a transfer student who joined in the 10th grade. Before I came to Comp Sci High, I originally enrolled at Walkabout Bronx High School, which is now known as Bronx Legacy High School. During that period, everyone was still under the effects of COVID-19, which changed everything for us. My school sent out a form to all students and families to give students the option to either opt-in to remote learning or in person learning. Since my class was the founding class, they encouraged students to attend in person to get to know each other and build a community. They believed that our founding 9th grade should be able to use their power of voice to say their wishes for that school. However, the school was not organized enough. The classes were quiet and people did not seem to care about the work. Everything felt out of place and most of the students transferred throughout the first few months. I decided to leave because they didn’t stick to their word, but Comp Sci High does.
But that’s my story. I want to tell Demi’s story so that I can see what I missed out on, and why this school is as special as it is. What does it do for ninth graders that I never got to experience?
Demi described his experience entering high school as “weird,” “new,” and “much more different” than his middle school. However, his daily routine was much more different than mine. I was able to shadow Demi for a period of class. I found him to be reading a novel: ‘Shadowshaper’ by José Older during his ELA class, about a high school girl who is trying to finish a painting but a shadow shaper is preventing her from finishing it. His teachers, Mr. Magaldi and Ms. Mao, both made sure everyone was fully engaged in the work.
I want to acknowledge that Demi is the House Leader for his advisory: The Mysterious Ballers. As House Leader, he hopes that he can become a better person, a better public speaker, and a better friend. He believes that taking on this role will help him develop to become very smart, noticeable and bright. But why take on this role? What does he wish to accomplish as a House Leader or as a student in Comp Sci High?
Demi shared some of his goals and wishes as House Leader. He plans to create study groups for academic help and other needs for his house, to organize small events or field trips for the upcoming year(s), work with students to resolve problems, and inform school leaders about the ideas emanating from the advisory. Most importantly, he wants to make the experience for his advisory a great and unforgettable one. Demi is also trying to accomplish his hidden goal as an individual. He claims that he is usually known as “the quiet kid,” and hopes to enhance his public speaking or social skills. He isn’t the type to start a conversation and would rather let anyone come to him first.
While sitting down next to him, I could see how smart he really is and there’s something special about him. His academic skills, his cooperation, and his confidence are just some of the traits he finds within. In addition, he’s very organized where he manages to finish his homework and classwork during Study Hall, so he doesn’t have anything to worry about when he gets home. He mentioned that he wasn’t even sure he would be voted as House Leader and was surprised to hear it himself. Now that he has taken this role, he says he wants to make sure that his advisory isn’t represented as “not basic.” He will show up for his advisory and he will leave a mark.
As Demi spoke to me about being "the quiet kid," I thought about myself at his age. I, too, was the quiet kid. But now, after a few years, I'm a reporter sitting in a class with a freshman, trying to help them tell their story. It took more than enough time for me to get myself where I am. I thought back to my experiences in high school. I, too, did not want to talk to nobody first nor create a conversation. Now, that’s changed. This school has really encouraged me and everybody to speak up and to express more. The longer you stay within the Comp Sci High community, the more comfortable you will get among them.
Demi mentioned that he went on the 9th grade camping trip that took place at Camp Ramapo in Rhinebeck NY. He believes that this trip was needed in order to connect with the Comp Sci High community to express more than he ever did, allow him to get more comfortable and make friends. He stated that during the first day he arrived, he was separated from his advisory to a boy’s cabin and felt weird. Although it was weird at first, he felt as if he was able to get comfortable as days went by. However, he said some of the kids were acting immature.
Sitting in the class with Demi, I imagined myself as a 9th grader. It was only a few years ago, but it feels longer. I have changed in ways where I became more socialized, more motivated, and prepared for what tomorrow brings. Although this is a much more different atmosphere than my experience. The classroom was all working together as a team. There was no shame or embarrassment whatsoever, I could see that they all shared ideas and questions about what is or could be happening in the novel they’re reading. Looking around, I could see that they all knew each other and knew how to get along with each other.
Demi has an older sister, Omolola, who is a senior that allowed him to talk to some of the people in our community. He describes the people of our community as “welcoming … role model[s]” and first coming onboard as “weird not knowing anyone … strange.” Demi compared his high school experience to his middle school experience. He claims that Comp Sci High has a different and better approach. For example: In his middle school he expresses that the teachers would “embarrass you” or “yell at you.” In contrast, he says that “Comp Sci High has a much different approach, where teachers are not rude and they care. They would take you out to step out and genuinely talk to you.”
Comp Sci High currently has an open project for their brand new building for everyone, excluding the seniors. I asked Demi if he thought that the Comp Sci High community will remain the same or changed. Demi believes that the new building will be nothing but just a new physical building, but the community will remain the same.
Yes, high school is one of many chapters in our life, but it can be the most important one. Everyone changes during high school, mentally and physically. Our mental health is one of the main features that will be altered because we have to show up to school for four years, reaching the finish line to finish high school. Boys turn into young men and girls turn into young women. When you’re a senior in middle school, you get that rush where you’re feeling that high school is going to be crazy, fun, and to some it might be a nerve-racking experience since we all will be going to different or same schools. However, being a senior in high school is a whole different story. Demi has a whole lot of time to think about everything. He finds the current seniors to be leaders: confident, wise, and grown up to him. But what about Demi? Although he is a freshman, does he ever picture himself as a senior? Does it feel like a long way? Yes, he thinks about himself as a senior. Yes, Demi does think it’s a long way from now, but he feels as it will benefit him. He wants to make his experience here “worth it,” and not “wait until the last day to do something.”
When we move into and through our high school, we think about what can approach us. What’s next? Am I going in the right direction? Am I speaking to the right people? We are all clueless when we are first entering a new environment.
However, this new environment is like no other. We come and find that there are many different faces and people who are older than us. Even some kids grow up thinking that high school is going to be like what you see in shows or movies, but that’s not the case. I would compare a student’s high school experience as a butterfly’s life cycle. A high school freshman is embarking on a journey of newfound experiences, adapting to manage their life distinctly in a unique manner.
I would know because it happened to me. And I think that the 9th grade year is the most important year in high school. I know others might disagree with me because they might believe senior year is the most important year; regarding senior trips, college or next steps after high school. This is wrong. I believe that 9th graders should be given the opportunity to have their voices heard and taken into consideration to shape their future, including their experience throughout high school. Since the freshman in our school are starting to get comfortable with one another, Comp Sci High should bring seniors and freshmen together to try to structure a school where, together, we can make a difference.