Happy second to the last week of school, everyone.

For me, it’s my last school year here in Beaver, PA because after almost six years, I’m finally moving back to Louisiana where I was born and raised and where my whole family is.

The thing is . . . I made a lot of friends here in PA, both at school and more, and I’m honestly really going to miss it all.

Yes, some times were hard, difficult, and different, yet it was all wild, fun, and life-changing, and in this article, today, I’m going to talk about it all. You are going to hear the Confession of the Quirky Black Girl.

Moving to Pennsylvania (2018)

I was 11 when my dad took an offer from the Shell company to take a position in Pennsylvania, and I was pretty sad to leave my friends, and family, and more, but two of the things that made me feel okay about moving: there was going to be snowy weather, and I was happy about this because in Louisiana, the climate is mostly humid and rainy, and Id only seen and played in the snow once before I moved.

The second fact was a good family friend and uncle-figure of mine was going to work at Shell too, and his family with his young daughter and teenaged-niece (who once was a student here at Beaver Area High School and who grew to be even more like cousins and sisters to me) were coming to live with us in Pittsburgh. So that brought a big smile to my face.

Making Friends and Memories at School and around Pittsburgh (2018-2020)

Starting at Dutch Ridge Elementary, I was pretty peeved that sixth grade was still in elementary because back in Louisiana sixth grade is considered middle school, and for some strange reasons, thanks to multiple movies and shows, I watched, I had this fantastical view of going to high school and doing all that stuff.

Anyway, when I first came to Dutch Ridge, I was pretty nervous, but little did I know I would make many great friends who have been there for me ever since, and that goes for the people not just at both Dutch Ridge and then a year later, Beaver Area Middle School, but also at my Kingdom Hall church and people who work alongside my dad, and their families have became mine as they too were Black and from the South.

Many wonderful times have come for me in my time here, making lovely memories such as going to my first baseball game, riding the Gateway Clipper with my school friends, working on a science project with them, learning to play violin and play in the orchestra at least once, finding my passion in writing by writing for Bobcats’ Growl, the Beaver Area Middle School newspaper, playing in the snow and hanging out with my cousins, almost every day, whether it was building tents and watching crazy fun videos with the younger one or getting advice from and confiding in the older one, and altogether watching movies and going on walks around the neighborhood.

Honestly, hanging out with my cousins and my new friends gave me a new sense of living and also got me out of my comfort zone of where I would mostly just sit around and watch TV and movies about characters going on crazy adventures and having life-changing experiences—that is honestly what it felt like for me meeting friends my age and older both at school and at Kingdom Hall/church. It brought me a new happy experience, especially when I went to my first school dance; it all gave me a new sense of living.

However, earlier in my time living here, there were times when I visited back to Louisiana that I weirdly felt that I was betraying my original home with my new home in PA, but then I realized that I can have the best of both worlds in Louisiana and Pennsylvania, and thus that made things easier.

Growing Pains (2021-2022)

Then of course, came a bit harder times for me as I reached high school, but not a bad hard, a hard as in a reality wake up. I felt some of my friends drift a bit. Even though we were still close, there were times I felt a bit left out, but not intentionally or anything, just emotionally, mostly, and then there came most of my close family friends having to move back to their respective places after being let go by Shell. I am happy for them, but also part of me felt lonely from that as well.

Also there was one time when I made some friends who I thought were nice, when in the end, they turned out to be total fakes and two-faced, and that goes for other basic jerks in the school who have jeered and mocked me for my bubbly and bright personality and my love of movies, which can be a bit upsetting. But for the most part it’s disgusting how some people for their age can act like immature children with clearly nothing better to do with their lives.

Taking the Good from the Bad (2022 - 2024)

However, despite these challenges, I managed to push through it all and have found fun times with my friends, old and new, whether it was talking, catching up, going to school dances (especially my first prom, which I’ve always dreamed going to, and not to mention, it was awesome, and I saw the Northern Lights, and all on the same night) and hanging out, which made me feel good and alive like any teenager should. I also found friends in my teachers, and a special thanks to all my favorite teachers who have encouraged me in my work and who were also friends and confidants who were easy to talk to; they deserve more love and appreciation from all.

Also, I enjoyed finding passion and solace in my favorite classes (Art, English, Journalism, and Integrated Science/Chemistry) throughout the years whether it was through creative works or making and collaborating with friends, especially this year because it was in Journalism, aka the BASD ECHO, I made friends with an amazing ensemble of great writers who I got along with well and enjoyed every day of hearing their stories and jokes about many different things, and plus it’s one of the only classes where I felt I could fully be myself without getting judged and all that jazz, which honestly always made my day.

Same goes for my best friends I made outside of school who also understood all of me and related with me, especially on my love of movies and shows; I love them the most.

Lastly, to all the jerks out there who laughed and called me out for my quirks and all, here’s what I have to say, in the words of one of my favorite musical songs, which is from the Broadway adaptation of Mean Girls, “I rather be me, than be with you (or even be like you)” because I love being unapologetically me, and I love watching my movies, and I love wearing all things bright, bold, and beautiful like me, and I’m proud of who I am, and that I’m not like any other basic teenager.

How I Feel About Moving Back To Louisiana

Honestly, I’m a bit torn because I enjoyed making the best both of worlds in Pennsylvania and Louisiana, but I am happy I’ll be able to get to see all my family and friends there full time.

But most importantly, I’ll really miss all my friends here in PA, and I’m sad I won’t be able to graduate with my friends, and I’ll especially miss playing in the snow and making snow angels and snowmen, or just sitting in the window and watching it fall with a nice cup of hot chocolate along with a snow-themed movie playing like one of my favorites, Frozen.

My Favorite Snowwoman I ever built

I will never forget my time here in Pennsylvania; so many people and things have changed me and brought so much joy in my life and therefore I will always be grateful, and I hope all my friends keep living their best lives and being the awesome people that they are, especially like they were to me.

This is Klarc Taylor signing off from the ECHO for the last time!