A freshman’s anticipation on the first day of high school is one of the many rites of passage.

For many, that anticipation was put to an end in September, when the school year began after a month-long delay due to Covid-19. 

But freshman Alondra Delgado Lozoria didn’t experience her first day at DHS until late March.

“I started out remote, so I could take care of my baby brother,” she said. 

But she got bored at home and decided she wanted to switch to in-person learning. 

“At first, I was nervous to come,” she said. “I was bullied in seventh grade and so I didn’t want to come to high school because I was just like, there’s no point.”

Her point of view changed once she made new friends and surrounded herself with the right people.

“I grew up with (junior) Xhavier Vaquera and he made me realize that there’s no problem here at Derby High School, and if there is, then it’s whatever,” she said. “I also have friends that are sophomores, so I felt more comfortable.”

She arrived on the morning of March 23 feeling the same anticipation her peers experienced in September. 

“The teachers are nice,” she said. “The kids, if I’m being honest, are kind of weird. Like, they bring random things into class. Yesterday in third block, someone brought in hot sauce.”

Despite being intimidated by the size of DHS, she was able to navigate her first day without getting lost and says her favorite thing to do is walk the halls. 

She also feels as though being in-person allows her to focus better in class. 

“I miss sleeping and just laying in bed and doing my online work, but I’m glad I decided to come,” she said.