Making the move to a new school in the middle of your high school career could be a morale crusher, but not for Joshua Thomas, senior.

Thomas is a former Hazelwood east student who transferred to U. City his sophomore year and said that he had mixed feelings about the experience.

“I was ready to go,” he said. “I was tired of fighting and going back and forth with dudes I had no business with. When I came to UCHS the seniors and students were prideful and welcomed me with open arms.”

However, at first Thomas was skeptical about the move.

“My mama told me we were moving like a week or two into the school year,” said Thomas. “I was mad because it was like I was leaving everybody and everything I knew and I didn’t know if U. City was going to be a good place for me. I didn’t want to move but I couldn’t change her mind because she had already been talking about getting this house so I was a little too late.”

Even though Thomas wasn’t all in for a big move during the school year, he brought out the bright side of the situation.

“It was a fresh start and gives you a chance to better yourself and become a better person because when you’re at your old school, you’re stuck in your ways,” said Thomas. “While you’re young your reputation is the most important thing to you and change is what it meant to be a transfer student.”

One of the biggest struggles for new students is getting acquainted with people since they know little to no one.

“It took me until second semester when I started to know people at the level of friendship,” said Thomas. “I started to trust even though I’m not used to trusting.”

The transition of going from school to school would be a disaster to most people, but it had great benefits for Thomas, who also sprouted as an athlete even though hadn’t been involved in sports before he came to U.City.