Many know of the challenges that come with being ‘the new kid’- from the difficulty of fitting in, making friends and navigating through classes. For many students, transferring schools comes with a mix of anxiety and excitement. Students often dread the idea of moving schools in the middle of the semester as they lose friendships, disrupt plans and adapt to a different environment than the one they are used to. However intimidating the experience may be, some students have managed to thrive from the change. Green Hope has welcomed numerous students from different states and countries creating a strong cultural community students can thrive in. The school has diverse offerings in academics, coursework and extracurricular activities, tailoring to students with nearly any interest . The GH Falcon sat with a few transfer students who shared their experiences transferring to Green Hope.
Common challenges include adjusting to the academic rigor, feeling out of place and fitting into clubs and sports. One of the most common problems students are faced with is the sheer size of the student body which can be intimidating especially for students from much smaller schools. “I remember spending about fifteen minutes just looking for my class on my first day. I felt completely lost,” said Lamar Mohammed (’26), a junior who transferred from Iowa. “It took me almost two weeks to finally figure out where all my classes were.”
Academic adjustment is also a daunting obstacle many of the students faced. Some courses and credits students had taken at their previous institutions did not transfer to Green Hope hence the students were required to retake some courses. Furthermore, Green Hope’s rigorous coursework and competitive atmosphere can catch some students off guard. “Transferring to Green Hope lowered my GPA and caused me to lose a few of the credits I had earned at my previous school, I had to take a few class which I had already completed again because North Carolina education standards are different from Missouri’s,” Chloe Mapara (’25) – a senior who transferred from Missouri – explained.
Lamar agreed with Mapara’s struggles and explained that credits applied differently across states. “The Advanced Placement classes I took in Iowa were not considered in the grade scale here because the school did not consider them APs. This reduced my credits drastically and I had to take up more AP classes,” she added. Many of the seniors, their college plans were significantly disrupted as some didn’t even intend on attending college in North Carolina but have to now because it is the more affordable option. Mapara mentioned having to change her dreams of attending a college she really wanted to go to back home.
Making friends and fitting in is also another significant hurdle students struggled with during their first few weeks at the school, especially for those who transferred mid year. Green Hope’s large student body offers numerous opportunities to meet new people and form significant relationships but for new students, it tends to feel like they’re intruding on already made social relationships. “Moving to the school took a toll on relationships I had back home, in Knightdale. It made some relationships harder to maintain, adapting to the different types of people here was difficult as well,” said Jaden Hammond (’25).
To turn struggles into success, the students mentioned that a lot of Green Hope students and staff played a huge role in them getting accustomed to the new environment. Despite their initial challenges, the students found a lot started to change once they started getting more involved in Falcon community activities. “I remember people being unable to hear me because of my African accent but a lot of the students are very nice and helpful which made me feel more comfortable. They were always supportive when I needed help and this helped me feel so much more welcomed,” Mapara said. When asked whether transferring was worth it, students responded with positive messages. Many mentioned that Green Hope facilitated a very friendly and welcoming environment, helping new members of the community feel at home.
While the process and experience of transferring schools can feel overwhelming and intimidating, the school proved to be a place new students can truly find a home at. Through reaching out, getting more involved in clubs and sports and also embracing the new culture, transfer students have opportunities to integrate into Cary’s diverse community . To those just starting their Falcon journey, students are encouraged to ask for help, try something new; they may be surprised just how welcoming the Falcon community can be.
