"I can't believe today is the day," Destinee murmured to herself, her voice a mix of excitement and anxiety. She hugged her stuffed rabbit tightly, her mind racing with the thought of starting middle school at just ten years old. "Will they like me? Will I fit in?"
With a deep breath, Destinee stepped outside, her backpack almost as big as she was. Her mom gave her an encouraging smile and waved as she joined the crowd of students heading towards the towering school building. "You can do this, sweetheart. Just be yourself," her mom had said.
Destinee stood by her locker, feeling small amid the older students rushing around her. That's when she noticed Jasper, a kind artist with paint-splattered shoes, struggling with his sketchbook. "Need a hand?" Destinee offered with a smile.
Jasper looked up, his face lighting up with gratitude. "Thanks! I'm Jasper. Art is my thing, but organization, not so much," he chuckled.
Destinee entered the lab, drawn by curiosity. Maya noticed her and waved her over. "Hey, I'm Maya. You must be new. Want to see something cool?"
Destinee nodded eagerly as Maya showed her a project she was working on. "Wow, that's amazing! Can you teach me?" Destinee asked, her eyes sparkling with interest.
"What if we combine our skills for the school fair?" Jasper proposed. "A tech-art exhibit could be awesome," Maya added.
Destinee felt a surge of confidence. "And I can help organize and present it. Let's show everyone what we can do!" she exclaimed, feeling the support of her new friends.
Parents and teachers admired their work, and Destinee felt a warmth of belonging. "We did it!" she beamed, exchanging high-fives with her friends.
"You were amazing, Destinee," Maya said. "Yeah, age doesn't matter when you have great ideas," Jasper added.
Destinee realized that her fears had been unfounded. She had found her place, and with her new friends, she knew middle school was just the beginning of her adventures.
