Personal Narrative: Woodrow Wilson High School

“We’re back to the Beav!” My dad would mockingly say this to embarrass me when telling family about my decision to transfer back into Beaverton School District. I had attended BSD schools my entire life; Montclair Elementary, then the International School of Beaverton for Junior High, but in the summer of 8th grade, I decided to switch to Woodrow Wilson High School. I had found an interest in Computer Programming, and felt that I wanted to pursue my passion. Wilson High has a very well-known Technology program, so I applied for a transfer and was accepted. Coming into my first day of Freshman year, I didn’t know a single person in my grade, but I wasn’t concerned about that. I quickly made friends, and settled down into place. The year was
going by quite smoothly, but around semester, I began to notice a sudden change. My peers started skipping class, blowing off sports, and getting involved with drugs. I felt overwhelmed. When I finalized my transfer to Wilson, I hadn’t heard much about the students I would soon be in class with. Unfortunately, it seemed I had stumbled into what faculty unanimously named, “the worst class in Wilson history.”

I soon knew that I wanted out.
I had lost many friends because I refused to ditch class and smoke. I was deemed uncool because I put school work before anything else. This wasn’t anything like the environment I had hoped for. During the last several months of my Freshman year, I decided to transfer yet again; I was going back to Beaverton School District. Luckily, I knew plenty of kids from Junior High and Elementary school, but I was still concerned. Would I be thrown into another school run by stoners? Would I be able to receive the education I had expected from Wilson? The answers to those amazed me. From the first day of school, I felt like I had been here for years. Students were quick to introduce themselves, many offering to show me around or tell me all the hangout spots. I was amazed by the kindness that everyone showed to a complete stranger. Students held doors for me, invited me to sit with them in class or at lunch, and were quick to offer tips on how to survive BHS.

7 Months later, and I still couldn’t feel anymore at home. When I left Wilson, I was convinced that high school truly was like it is in the movies, with sex, drugs, and Rock & Roll coming before all else. However, Beaverton changed my perspective. At Beaverton, it is always education first. When I declined party invites to do homework during my Wilson days, the response was always laughter. Here, you’re weird if you blow off homework for hanging out with friends. The strive for the best education
possible still amazes me.

The sense of community that is engrained into the students here is mind-boggling. Everyone wants each other to succeed, and will do anything in their power to help them achieve their goals.