The past turned over a new chapter, one holding a new town, new school, and new people to become acquainted with. For Southwest sophomore Zach St. Clair this reality hit him this summer when he found out that he was moving. Change is hard for anyone, but for Zach this isn’t his first, or even second move.

Zach has grown up in both Alaska and other parts of Kansas. He has moved back and forth between the states but this summer found out he was moving from his small town of Iola, Kansas, to Johnson County. For any high school student the thought of moving and having to adjust to a new place with new friends to make is daunting, but Zach jumped right in at Southwest, getting involved in activities and making a wide range of friends.

“I have lived all over the place. We started out in Alaska because my dad was in the air force,” Zach said.

After his mom got remarried Zach found out that he was moving to Iola with his sisters, mom and stepdad. But one move wasn’t the end, Olathe was the next destination for Zach. Mixed emotions come with moving and Zach has experienced them all.

“When I found out I was moving I was like, I can talk my way out of this. I don’t have to do this,” Zach said. “I didn’t believe it at first.”

The small town of Iola could not be more different than coming to a Blue Valley school.

“I knew it was going to be a lot bigger,” Zach said. “All the schools I have been to were in a small town. I’ll just do my best not to be the odd man out.”

In Blue Valley everything is more in depth. Students cannot be involved in a ton of activities because everything is a big time commitment. This is one of the things Zach misses about his old school. At Southwest Zach has gotten involved in band, soccer and theater, though he wishes he could spend more time doing theater.

Being involved in school is a great way to get meet new people and feel more a part of a place that for new students is completely unfamiliar.

“Being involved really helps you get to know people at school,” Zach said. “If I hadn’t gone [to band camp] and just jumped into school it would have been a lot more difficult to get into the groove of things.”

The band is such a tight family of students and being in band opens the doors to many great friendships.
“If you’re a band kid finding friends is not difficult,” sophomore band member Brandon Rathburn said.

“We loved having another special addition to the band family.” sophomore dance team member Rachael Sorcher said. “Everybody [referring to the sophomore band students] loves his spirit…and he is always smiling.”

Zach is very outgoing and instantly made friends all over the school. After a semester here at Southwest Zach is settled and doesn’t feel out of place now.

“Zach is just all around an awesome. He is cool, really funny, an awesome musician, smart and overall a nice friend,” Rathburn said.

Zach has made quite an impression on his new friends here at Southwest.

“Zach is super friendly to everybody and is always energetic,” Sorcher said. “He likes to joke around and have fun.” Sorcher said.

Even though new students become comfortable with their new school, they will always be reminded of their old friends. Zach described moving as “bittersweet.”

“I think having moved here has opened up lots of windows of opportunity,” Zach said. “But I miss the feeling of closeness with people… being able to talk to them and chill with them”

On top of having just a new school to worry about, Zach and many new students go through changes at home. Zach’s older sister, one of his closest friends, has gone away to college at Kansas State University. So in addition to school change Zach had to go through family change too. Moving is difficult on families and kids who move around a lot know this first hand.

“It’s hard and it’s frustrating.” sophomore Maddie Barger, who has gone through a lifetime of constant moving, said. “It has brought us together because when you have no friends you have a lot of family time.”

The idea of leaving the relationships students have built in school with friends is hard to imagine.

“It would be very hard [to move in high school] because you are leaving friends that you have known for years. There is no familiar face and you would have to put yourself out there even when the situation may be new.” Sorcher said.

One new situation is nerve-racking, but for Zach it is simply the norm. Though Southwest might not be the last move Zach has to make, he has embraced the positives of change and grown from the experience. Moving will never be easy for someone, but it is what they make out of the situation that counts.