It is often seen played out on TV, new kid comes to school, shy and confused. They often get lost, and sometimes avoid the seemingly unreachable idea of “new friends”. It is a situation no one willingly puts themselves into. High school is tough enough on its own. The move in itself seems daunting. Add in that it is the last year of your high school career, and it becomes terrifying. Senior Miles Otwell, a transfer student from a small town in north Florida, knows the feeling exactly.

 “I was really pumped about it [the move] at first. But then as it got closer, it became more nerveracking because after four years of living in a small town, you know everybody, and we just dropped everything and moved to a new place; it was scary,” said Otwell.

 To students who have primarily lived their whole lives in Loudoun County, the idea of a new school is a foreign concept; the thought of Potomac Falls as a place that is considered intimidating is just preposterous. And yet, without even meaning to, this school, student body, and academics come across just so.

 “I expected a huge school, and got it; with very rigorous academics, and got that,” said Otwell.

 Otwell came from a small town where everybody knew everybody, and the concept of one day just packing up and moving is not something that occurs all the time. The hardest part about the departure may be parting from the friends that were included in every event, situation, or time for a person. The plans for prom, graduation, and everything in between, all down the drain. Florida and Virginia are hardly a stone’s throw away, it is hard to have a get together when one friend is 2,000 miles away. Otwell says it is hard to move schools and deal with this sentiment, especially his senior year.

 “I wouldn’t recommend it,” he said with a laugh, “Because you grow up with these people; and then you’re just dropping them, dropping your classes, you’re leaving everything behind that you had thought of for graduation. I had always looked forward to graduating with my friends in Florida, and now I have to move, and do it [plan for graduation] all over again,” said Otwell.

 Maybe one of the greatest challenges one has to face when arriving to a new school is being the outcast. A sort of spotlight is shone on those who don’t know their way around or who are not sure where to sit when class starts. Senior year, friend groups are not shifting around as much as they did previously, so it begs the question, where is there room for the new kid? Otwell admits to creating stereotypes in his head about how the new kid is perceived in places where all you see is cliques and packs. Those images were something replayed countless times before, by quite possibly every new kid to arrive anywhere.

 “I was terrified [when I first arrived here], I was honestly afraid that everyone was going to hate me because a stereotype I’ve always had in my mind is that the new kid is not always loved,” said Otwell. However, in Otwell’s case, he found a way to quickly make a name for himself. During a fall Senior Advisory Board meeting, he came up with an ingenious fundraising idea. Many students and teachers throughout the school participate in the unorganized “event” of ‘No Shave November’, and Otwell proposed making it into the fall fundraiser. The event was a huge success, with students of all classes participating. So, maybe being the new kid isn’t too hard, though perhaps Otwell is just making it look easy. Senior class sponsor Mrs. Michelle Dillistin remembers her first impression of him being quite distinct.

 “He was very mature and very organized, I was extremely impressed with him. He had the knowledge base to think of the ‘No Shave November’, but was also a leader, he made sure that people knew and were doing what they were supposed to,” said Dillistin. The fundraiser helped the senior class tremendously, raising money to help a charity chosen by SAB.

 What started out as fear of a stereotype becoming real life has settled into comfort. A new school is not so “new” anymore and familiar patterns arise. With half a year gone, it is easier to see how far one has come and recognize the successes that have been achieved. Otwell can look back at his past semester with pride. Half the marathon that is senior year has been completed.

“I feel like I made it. It’s really awesome, this is one of the better schools in America, and I am really glad that I am here,” said Otwell.