Defying Stereotypes: Breaking the New Student Mold By: Gabrielle Yocum and Josh Restivo
Change can be all for the better, or all for the worse.
“They had sweet tea here, I didn’t expect that.” young Owen jokes.
16-year-old, Owen Kile, recently learned a lot about how a big change could affect his life in more ways than one.
Owen is a few weeks into his sophomore year at State College Area High School. His first day in the new school was only a few weeks after he moved from Murfreesboro, Tennessee; where he lived his entire life. Owen, somewhat of a shy young kid, had to adapt quickly to his new surroundings and luckily did not have any trouble making the adjustments.
When asked what the hardest adjustment was during the move, Owen did not give the expected answer of it being difficult to fit in or make new friends Owen answered with “Scoodle. It’s where you find your grades, your assignments, you got to post assignments on there. It’s a lot of work.”
State College and Murfreesboro are about seven-hundred and fifty miles apart, which could make a new place not feel like home right away. However, sometimes moves can be for the better and the Kile family is optimistic about what the future and the State College community holds for them.
Owen’s mother, Cathy Kile said “One friend in particular has been amazing. She has tried to help me find a house, she has tried to help me find a job, just anything I needed. I would have to say the people here are super helpful.”
Owen and his two siblings had to look far into their future at such young ages but realized that going to a large and prestigious university is going to be one of their top priorities down the road. The Kile family moved to State College realizing that it will help all of their children achieve the goal of attending Penn State University one day.
Being the new student is never easy, especially in high school when friends groups have already been established. However, this did not stop Owen from breaking the mold of the stereotypical new student. He decided he would try playing on the State High football team as a way to help him fit in and find friends.
State High’s head football coach, Matt Lintal said “We try to introduce them to everybody and let them know, hey guys, if you see them walking in the hallway, say hello, invite them over for your lunch. That is the best way to get to know your peers.”
He has never played organized football before due to his old school in Tennessee not having a team. At first it was tough for him, but Owen persistent personality and with the help of the team accepting him, Owen has excelled and made quite a few new friends. One of his newest closest friends on the team is senior, Gus Snyder.
“We try to instill that in our program that these kids care for each other. As a football team we try to embrace those kids and make them feel a part from day one.” Said Coach Lintal.
New students across the world face challenges everyday. From missing their hometown, friends and family to not feeling accepted into their new environment. In the end, Owen is no different than the roughly 2,100 students that go to State High. He hopes that playing football and getting himself more involved in school and the community will help him State College feel like home to him and that he and his family made the right decision to move to Happy Valley.