Diary of a 6th Grade Girl #1: How to Survive Middle School

by Lamadre, Claudia

  DIARY OF A 6TH GRADE GIRL #1:

  MY NEW SCHOOL

  Tony Iacovone

  Iacovone Publishing

  CONTENTS

  DIARY OF A 6TH GRADE GIRL #1: MY NEW SCHOOL

  Day 1

  Day 2

  Day 3

  Day 4

  Day 5

  Day 6

  Day 7

  Day 8

  Day 9

  Day 10

  Day 11

  Day 12

  Day 13

  Day 14

  Day 15

  Day 16

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  DIARY OF A 6TH GRADE GIRL #1:

  MY NEW SCHOOL

  Hello, my name is Samantha. I’m 11 years old, and I’m about to start my first year of Middle School. I decided that I should keep a diary to help girls like me have an easier time when they have to start Middle School too. My older sister, Anna, said that she always wanted to do one, but she forgot when it was time for her to go.

  I just moved to this school last year, so I haven’t had the chance to make many friends or become popular. I know that if I’m scared about starting school as a 6th grader, a lot of other girls probably are too. So, I hope that my experiences written in this diary will someday help all of those girls out there who are like me. It would be a nice way to help make the world an easier place for tween girls like me.

  Day 1

  Dear Diary,

  I’m really nervous about starting Middle School—it’s only two days away. Last year, I moved to this town close to summer, so I only got to go to school for two weeks! I didn’t have time to make many friends, and I don’t know anyone around here.

  My parents took me shopping today so that I could get some new clothes and school supplies. All of the clothes that I bought look really good on me, but I’m not sure if the other people at school will like them. I don’t have any idea what’s popular at this school! I really don’t want to be made fun of, and it would be cool if I could fit in with the popular crowd.

  All summer, my older sister, Anna, kept telling me how hard Middle School is. She will be in eighth grade this year, so she knows how it is. She told me that I’ll be made fun of because I’m weird, and I’ll never get a boyfriend because I’m too short. So, I’m really scared about going to school on Monday. What am I supposed to do?

  Day 2

  Dear Diary,

  Tomorrow is the first day of school! I got my schedule in the mail this morning, and I have to be at the bus stop by 7. Last year, I didn’t have to be at the bus stop until 8:30! I’m going to bed early to get my beauty sleep, but I’m too nervous to lie down right now.

  I have my clothes picked out for tomorrow. When I picked them out, I thought that they were really cute, but now I’m not so sure. I don’t want to show up for my first day looking like a little girl. Anna looks so much more grown up than me, and she’s only two years older.

  She has a boyfriend too! I hope that I can get a boyfriend this year. I remember one guy from my class last year, before school ended for the summer. His name was Kyle, and he was really cute. I only talked to him once, to tell him to have a good summer. He smiled at me, and I think he might kind of like me. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. Wish me luck at school tomorrow!

  Day 3

  Dear Diary,

  I just got home from my first day of Middle School! It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, but I really don’t want to go back tomorrow. Remember how I told you that I only had one friend from last school year? Her name is Kristy, and I tried to talk to her today, and she completely ignored me!

  She was hanging out with a bunch of older, popular girls that are in 7th grade, and I heard her making fun of my clothes. It was really hard not to cry, and I didn’t even try to talk to anyone else for the rest of the day, except when I asked a teacher where a classroom was.

  All of the classes were hard to find, and I didn’t know where anything was. On the bright side, I was able to remember the combination to my locker without a problem! At least I didn’t have to go to the principal’s office and ask for help.

  I thought that Kristy was my friend, but she made fun of me just so that she could fit in with the popular girls. Why should I even try to make new friends if they’re all going to be like that to me? I don’t think I can make it through Middle School without friends though. I hope that tomorrow will be better.

  Day 4

  Dear Diary,

  Today was a little bit better. I was at my locker today, and because I’m the new girl, all of the popular girls came by to laugh at me. I was so nervous that I dropped all of the books that I was holding, and now all of the girls (even Kristy!) are saying I have butterfingers.

  I probably would have gone to the bathroom and cried, but then something amazing happened! You will never guess.

  After all of the other girls left, I started to pick up my books. Some of them had been kicked to the other side of the school, and people were walking over them on their way to their classes, so I was having a hard time finding all of my things. Then, Kyle came over and helped me get all of the books that had gone all over the hallway. His locker is right near mine, so he heard the girls being mean.

  He said, “You can sit with me at lunch, Samantha. There’s an empty seat at my table. I was new here a few years ago, and I know how hard it is to make new friends.”

  I smiled at him and said that I would definitely sit with him at lunch. I hope that he didn’t see me blushing. He’s so cute! And he’s nice too! So even though it was a rough day, I’m really happy that I went. Kyle made the day a lot better, and since I sat at his table during lunch, I know all of the other people he sits with. I’m making more friends already, and it’s not even that hard!

  I also found out that it’s not so hard to find all of my classrooms. Even though I got lost yesterday, I was able to find them all again today without a problem. I’ve only been in Middle School for two days, and I’m already starting to get used to it. Classes are starting for real now, instead of just handing out papers and textbooks, and bi think some of them are going to be a lot harder than I was expecting. I already have homework!

  Day 5

  Dear Diary,

  I really, really like Kyle. I think that he likes me too, but he might just like me as a friend. I’m not sure. How do you tell if a guy wants you to be his girlfriend? I’m too shy to ask my mom or my older sister, so I think I’ll just have to figure it out on my own. Maybe I’ll look it up on the Internet later.

  I can’t believe how much homework I had last night. Tonight wasn’t so bad; all that I had to do was write a short story telling the teacher who I am. The assignment was kind of fun, and I think that I wrote my story well. The teacher said that if we do well on them, she’ll hang them all on the wall outside of the 6th Grade English Classroom. I hope that she does. Then, I’ll be able to learn more about Kyle and some of his friends that I sit with at lunch.

  I sat with him again today, and it was really fun. We both brought our lunches, and traded our desserts. I found out that he doesn’t like chocolate pudding (which is my favorite), but he loves brownies. Should I bring him another brownie tomorrow? My mom made a whole bunch of them, because she was trying out a new recipe. Maybe I’ll bring some in for the whole lunch table.

  Kristy and her friends did make fun of me because I don’t have a cell phone. I thought that maybe she woul
d give up being mean, but she still is. I’m still hurt that she’s so mean to me this year, when I thought that we were friends last year. Why do people do things like that? I would never be so mean to anyone, especially someone that I used to be friends with, even if we got in a fight.

  Two more days until it’s Friday, and my first week of Middle School will be over. I really thought that it would be a lot harder than it is. I know that I only just started, but I’ve already made it through three days of the classes, and I spent all summer thinking that I wouldn’t even survive the first day. So far, it’s actually been kind of fun.

  It would be a lot more fun if Kristy and the popular girls weren’t so mean. I never did anything to them, but they make fun of me every chance I get. I think that it’s because I’m new here, and no one knows me. Maybe that short story I wrote for English class will help people get to know me better—I just hope that the teacher doesn’t make me read it in front of the class.

  This entry has been a lot longer than I meant for it to be, but Middle School gives me so much more to talk about. I’m really excited about how different is, and even though some things have been hard, I like it a lot more than I liked Elementary School. The only bad things are that I have homework every night, and the classes are kind of harder. And the popular girls don’t like me. But I have friends, and I might even have a boyfriend soon! So it is all going okay.

  Day 6

  Dear Diary,

  I can’t believe it! Kristy told me today to stay away from her boyfriend. When I asked her who her boyfriend was, she told me it was Kyle! I’m not sure if she’s telling the truth or not, but I’m really sad. I really like Kyle, and I’m tired of Kristy getting everything that she wants, just because she’s pretty and wears “cool” clothes. I’m just as pretty, and my clothes look good on me.

  I have a lot of homework to do tonight, so I’m going to work on that now. I’ll ask Kyle tomorrow at lunch if he really is dating Kristy, since I didn’t get the chance to ask him today.

  Day 7

  Dear Diary,

  The good news is that Kyle isn’t dating Kristy after all! She only told me that to make me jealous. The bad news is that now everyone knows that I like Kyle. I felt too shy to sit at the lunch table anymore, so I got up and went to the library. I told everyone that I had to finish my homework before Math Class, which I have right after our lunch break.

  What do I do about this? It’s so embarrassing that Kyle knows I have a crush on him. And he didn’t even say that he liked me back. I think I might have to talk to Anna about it. She understands boys a lot more than I do.

  Day 8

  Dear Diary,

  I didn’t have to ask Anna about my problem—she already knew! Apparently even the 8th graders know that I like Kyle. It’s okay though, because right when she was telling me how to fix it, the phone rang. My mom brought the phone into my room and told me that it was a boy from school, who was looking for me.

  I took the phone, and I was really confused. As soon as I said hello, and I heard Kyle respond, I couldn’t stop blushing. I almost hung up because I was so surprised that he had called me.

  And, guess what he wanted to talk about?

  He said that he was trying to talk to me at lunch time, but I left too quickly. Kyle told me that he really likes me, and he even said that he thinks I’m pretty!! I couldn’t stop giggling and blushing when he said that. Now I understand why all the girls do that in the movies. It gets even better than that though.

  After a few minutes of talking, he was quiet for a few minutes, and then I could hear him try to say something. He was actually shy about it! When he did finally talk, he asked me if I wanted to go to the movies with him tomorrow (Sunday) or hang out and get some pizza or something. I can’t believe this is happening!

  My parents said it’s alright if I go, but they want Anna to come with me. Anna told me a few minutes ago that she’ll leave us alone and go see a movie with her own boyfriend. That’s so cool, I can’t wait!

  Day 9

  Dear Diary,

  I’m about to leave to go and meet Kyle. I don’t think we’re going to the movies, but we’ll be at the mall. Maybe we’ll go to the food court and hang out and talk. I’m kind of hoping that Kristy and her popular friends are there, so they can see that Kyle likes me instead. Is it mean that I want her to be jealous of me for a change?

  I borrowed some of Anna’s makeup, since hers is a lot nicer than the things that I have. Everyone in my house keeps telling me how pretty I look. I’m wearing sparkly eye shadow, and some shimmery lip gloss, and I’m wearing a white skirt with a light blue t-shirt. It’s really pretty, I think. My parents even gave me some money so that I can pay for my own things. This is going to be really fun, but I’m kind of shy.

  Day 10

  Dear Diary,

  Today is actually Tuesday. I didn’t get the chance to write in my diary when I got home from my time with Kyle (I think it was a date, but I’m not sure). And yesterday, Monday, I had too much homework, so I just went to bed when I finished it. But I want to write all about what happened!

  Kyle and I did end up going to the movies, and we watched a romance movie. He let me pick, which was really nice of him. He didn’t even complain that it was kind of girly, and I noticed that he was looking at me every time I turned to look at him. It gave me butterflies in my stomach every time our eyes met. And guess what happened right in the middle of a kissing scene?!

  He reached over, and I saw his hand was shaking a little bit, and he took my hand in his. I was nervous, and I didn’t want my hand to be sweaty, but I held his hand for the rest of the movie.

  After the movie, he picked the restaurant since I got to pick the movie we went to. He chose this little pizza place farther away from the mall. We had to wait for Anna to come out of a horror movie with her boyfriend, and then we walked together to the pizza place.

  I was embarrassed that Anna had to come with us, but she gave us our space, and I was glad that I could watch and see what she did. I felt shy eating in front of Kyle, so I just did what she did with her boyfriend. They sat at the same table with us, but they left pretty soon so they could go kiss or something.

  Kyle held my hand again, and we talked for a while. He even asked me if it was true that I liked him. I told him yes, and I know my cheeks must have been bright pink. He smiled at me and told me that he liked me too, but he was too shy before to say anything.

  Right now, we’re still just friends I think. But maybe I’ll be his girlfriend sometime. That would definitely make Kristy jealous of me.

  When we went to school again yesterday, Kyle told everyone that we went to the movies and to dinner together. It made Kristy really mad, and she didn’t even talk to me! She just glared at me when we passed in the hallway. I like it this way a lot more and I hope she decides not to talk to me anymore. She can be really mean.

  Oh, I had my first science quiz today. I think I must have failed. It was only ten questions, but they were all a lot harder than they were in Elementary School. There was an essay question at the bottom that was the hardest to do, and I’m not very good at writing. I hope my grade doesn’t go down, but the teacher said it was just to give us some practice. I think that I should start studying more than once a week.

  Day 11

  Dear Diary,

  I was talking about how bad I am at Science during lunch today, and another girl told me that she’s good at it. She offered to help me with Science if I help her with Math, so we’re going to study together once a week! I’m really excited, because I think she might become my best friend.

  Her name is Sharon, and she’s really sweet. She moved here a few years ago, from a completely different country, so she knows what it’s like to be the new girl. She talks with an accent too, but I didn’t know if it was rude to ask where she was from.

  I gave
her my phone number, and she called around dinner time so that I could ask my mom if it’s okay for me to stay after school tomorrow. We’re going to do our studying together every Thursday, since she has something else to do every other day of the week. She dances, and she takes music lessons, and she even plays sports! I don’t think she likes to, but her mom makes her do it.

  I’m really happy to have a new friend, and I have someone who can help me with Science. Our grades and our social lives are getting better at the same time! We’ll invite the other kids at our lunch table to come too, but I don’t know if they’ll want to. They don’t really study very much, and I think that some of them might even end up failing. One of the girls at our table looks like she should be in High School, but she’s only in 8th grade. I’m determined to keep my grades up; I would hate to be held back. It would be embarrassing, and my parents would kill me.

  Day 12

  Dear Diary,

  Today is Friday, and guess what?! I’m having my first ever sleepover tomorrow. Sharon is coming over, and we’re going to have so much fun. It’s going to be really nice. My mom rented some movies for us, and we’re going to order pizza, and have ice cream. We might study, if we have enough time for that.

  And some other exciting news is that Kyle taped a note to my locker this morning. It said: “Hi Sarah, I’m not going to eat lunch in the cafeteria today, so I wanted to see if you would come to the library with me. It will just be the two of us. Hope I can see you there! Kyle, xoxoxo”

  I had to ask Sharon what the “xoxoxo” part meant. She says it means hugs and kisses! That is really sweet of him. Too bad Kristy didn’t see. She didn’t come to school today, and I heard it was because she was getting her braces put on. Maybe she won’t be so popular with braces.