I came to Stanley Clark in sixth grade. Although I'd been here for a year, I didn't make many memories until I hit seventh grade. The whole year I was focused on one thing - getting the position of Iroquois captain. It was my main goal. Here at Clark, there is a day at the end of the year called Olympic Day. Two teams, Miami and Iroquois, compete in different sports and track events. There's also chess and sudoku. 

The whole week I had been waiting to find out if I'd been named captain. Every day I would wake up and check my phone. I had COVID the week we were supposed to find out and was so scared I would miss it. I was able to come back to school on Thursday, the 28th, and we ended up finding out on Friday, April 29. I remember waking up thinking it was Monday, then I checked my phone and realized it was the day we would find out. I got to school an hour later.  As soon as I showed up, all my friends asked me if I was excited. They were all convinced that I would be a captain, but I wasn't. I was terrified that someone else would become a captain and I wouldn't. The next four hours of our day felt like the longest of my life. 

When assembly finally arrived, I was shaking. I was excited and terrified all at once. I had been in the Cards, Games, and More class for my FLEX with Mr. Younts and slowly walked out of his room and took a deep breath. I felt like the walls were closing in on me. Somehow I made it to the Atrium. I sat down with my friends and remembered my friend, Anna, rubbing my back encouragingly. I took a deep breath and blinked hard a few times. The first captain announced was a Miami girl, Elizabeth. When Ellie announced the first Iroquois girl, I got extremely tense. I was so scared. Ellie opened the envelope and read the first name. She said, "The first Iroquois girl captain is… Sarah." I was crushed. I forgot that there were still names to be announced. I closed my eyes then looked up and watched Sarah go and hug Ellie. Then I started shaking again because I realized there was still one more name to be announced. 

The next few minutes were agonizing. I watched and listened as the first boy captains were announced. When Erin opened her envelope to read the name on her paper, I almost had a panic attack. I stared at my shoes. I was so scared. Erin took out the paper and said, "The second Iroquois captain is … Avery!" I was so excited that Erin was the one to announce that I was captain. Erin was in eighth grade and my biggest role model throughout the year. She was so helpful in soccer and basketball, and she continues to be a role model to me to this day. 

I looked up so fast I got dizzy. I was so excited. I started shaking even more than I already was. I stood up and went to hug Erin and Ellie and was so out of it that I almost forgot to hug Erin. She looked at me and said, "Avery!" I walked over quickly and hugged her. Then I went to stand with the other future captains. A wave of relief washed over me. I blinked hard a few times so I wouldn't cry. I listened as the last two names were called, then we were told to sit down so assembly could finish. Sarah and I hugged and sat down together. 

After assembly, we were asked to stay for a picture. I hugged Ashley, Elizabeth, and Sarah again. I also hugged Erin again and said, "I'm still shaking." She looked at me and said, "Yeah, I felt the same way. I knew you were going to be a captain. I wasn't shocked when I read your name." I was so excited to hear that from my eighth-grade role model. I knew that only some people became a captain, so I made sure to check on those that didn't get it and congratulate those that did a second time. I consider this day the best day of my life so far. I spent my whole seventh-grade year trying to become a captain and achieved my goal.