Mello's Journey: Finding Friendship in a New School
Mello was excited but nervous. It was his first day at a new school, and he hoped to make friends. As he walked into the classroom, he noticed something right away—he was the only Black student. The other kids glanced at him but didn’t say anything. Mello took a deep breath and sat quietly. He wasn’t sure if anyone would talk to him, but he knew he had to try.
At recess, Mello saw a group of kids playing soccer. He loved soccer, but he was unsure if they’d let him join. Gathering his courage, he walked over and asked, “Can I play too?”
The kids exchanged glances. “Where are you from?” asked Tristan.
“I’m from a different school,” Mello replied. “But I love soccer, just like you.”
Skylar looked at him and said, “We’ve never had a friend like you before.”
Mello smiled and said, “That’s okay! I’ve never had friends like you either. We can learn from each other.”
There was a pause, then Tristan passed him the ball. “Sure! Let’s play!”
As they played, Mello felt his nervousness fade. He dribbled, passed, and even scored! The kids were laughing and playing together, and Mello realized it didn’t matter that he looked different—what mattered was that they were having fun.
After the game, Skylar told Mello, “You’re really good! I’m glad you played with us.”
Later, back in class, the teacher noticed Mello looking unsure. She walked over and said, “If you ever need help or want to talk, I’m here for you.” Mello smiled, feeling grateful to have a trusted adult in the classroom.
The next day, the teacher led a discussion about kindness and making everyone feel welcome. Tristan suggested, “We could ask more questions to get to know new students.” Skylar added, “We can learn from each other’s differences.”
Mello realized that being different wasn’t something to hide—it made him special. His new friends saw that their differences made them stronger together.
In the end, Mello knew that being unique wasn’t just okay—it was beautiful.
★★★★★6.9
