I was only nine years old when I walked through the doors of First Philly. I saw this big new school with all this fancy furniture, computers, and all this cool stuff. I came to First Philly out of a public school that always had fights and the teachers were boring, except one. This was my homeroom teacher he was the only one that actually interacted with the class. But that still wasn't enough to make me enjoy and want to go to school. When I walked down the hall ways of First Philly I saw an awesome new start. Even though the ceilings and the gym and stuff weren't done yet I still was amazed and excited to start this new school.

Now I am 14 years old and this is my last and final year at First Philly. I am going to miss all of the friends that I’ve made here, but I’ll try my best to keep in touch with them. We have been through a lot over the years with each other, like losing to of our close friends Ajee Perry and Shatara English. But it took losing loved ones to bring us closer together and create a stronger bond between us all. And I know those two girls are smiling down on us right now and are so very proud that we made it all the way. And I know that they wish they could be here and give us one final hug and goodbye, but since they can’t they will forever be in our memories.

First Philly has tauught me a lot over the years that I’ve been here and I’m very thankful for everything that this amazing school has taught me. During my time here I have gained hard work ethic, determination, will power, and the drive to strive for the best. But most of all I gained family and probably some life long friends. Even though we might argue and have disagreements and maybe even go as far as not talking to each other for a while we still come back together in the in. And that is exactly what family is. And I am proud to call this class of 09’ my family.

This is my last year here at First Philly and I can honestly say that I enjoyed this last year. Nobody knows what my future holds but I will try my best and work as hard as I can to make my parents, and all the administration here at First Philly proud. This school has molded me into a mature respectful young man that will achieve at anything he does. I have had fun and enjoy every day I shared with the people here at First Philadelphia Charter, and I will never for get the people here who help me along the way. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said “Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” And that means that I won’t follow the path that other people have made. I will make my on trail and leave my legacy.