Still On Cloud Nine...

While the rest of the population is settling down to enjoy a well-deserved rest this weekend, I, for one, have hardly stopped to catch my breath - regardless of the present date, life carries on as usual, with perhaps a few more hours spent in my bed than usual.

Without needing to launch into a dull-as-dishwater repeat, there is only one word which perfectly describes this week: crazy. From preparing for the craziness then be submerged into a pool of madness, literally everything that has taken place definitely takes the title of insane happenings - but I've loved every single second of it.

Oh yes, Little Miss Perfectionist - whose world is turned upside down by the slightest hint of a mess in her bedroom - has had the time of her life whilst entering an exciting journey into her new school: a fresh chapter has begun, along with a renewed attitude to her way of life. Having survived the worst of the very worst for six months, anything is possible - an inspirational mantra that my fading pessimist is struggling to get her head around!

Therefore, starting my first day (once again) on Thursday was viewed from the onset as a piece of cake: now equipped with knowledge regarding secondary school life, no ridiculous questions were likely to slip out of my mouth. Enduring a nightmare taught me more lessons than a lifetime of school could give, so I was more than ready to spot trouble from the furthest distance (though seeing it would have required my glasses, whose large spectacles are unlikely to send shockwaves during London Fashion Week).

However, I was really amazed when I finally arrived on campus, realizing that all of my tools - ice-cold glares and comebacks snappier than a crocodile's bite - intended to defend myself were useless. Unlike at my old school, I didn't need to defend myself: I was free to be myself, without fear of being ridiculed for doing my own thing.

Once that thought popped into my mind, bells chimed throughout the world, signalling the joy that rushed through me. Without opening my mouth, I kept squealing Hallelujah (or perhaps so in the crazed world that is my head) - was there ever such a happy moment? After the excitement began to die down, another thought - this one less likely to cause a stampede in the Science labs - occurred to me: after months of searching, I'd finally found the one.

And, in all honesty, that elation hasn't quite worn off yet. Hmm, perhaps I'm the very first person to experience an alcohol-free hangover? I'm suffering from all the typical symptoms - exhaustion, cravings for the largest plate of junk food, a reluctance to do much - except that I'm still buzzing from the past two days. Well, it's up to you whether that makes any sense.

Anyway, let's strip off the dramatic expressions and references to a sultry Dolce & Gabbana perfume, and return to basics. Facts are like unbuttered bread: plain and truthfully bland. Yet my facts have taken inspiration from another reality - they are too amazing to believe. No wonder that my head is throbbing this morning...

Besides from presenting absolutely no risk to my safety, the school has a terrific setting: it moved into a new building only earlier this year, which cost millions to build. However, if you woke up from a concussion and you didn't know where you were, the very last thing that you would describe it as is a school; not only is its appearance on a par with a high-tech hotel, but its atmosphere couldn't be further attached from a school environment. I feel very special to be walking on the ground, let alone attend the classes which, compared to my old ones, are better structured and do not feature a hint of trouble. If anyone misbehaves, they are automatically thrown out - not a single second is wasted on ignoring their childish antics or raising voices to no avail. Discipline forms part of the school's ethos, which makes our learning much better and more enjoyable - as if such a thing would have been witnessed at my old school!

Due to not offering my original options, I had to give up Catering and Media - which, if possible, I'm keen to study at home because of enjoying it so much - in favour of French, Sociology and Performing Arts. So far, I haven't attended a Performing Arts lesson which means that I'm unable to comment on it, yet only one lesson in Sociology sealed my passion for it. As I've missed two units of the school, I'm now catching up at home, but I don't mind at all - at the rate that I'm working, I ought to complete both units by next weekend, so I hope! And French? I should ace the controlled assessment that I missed out on Tuesday!

Above all, the greatest thing about the school is that, if you're given the label of a 'geek' or classified as 'unique', bullies don't come up to you and make your lives a misery. In fact, there are plenty of people who hang out together whilst maintaining their individuality, which would never have been seen at my former school. Yesterday, I met some really great people - a mixture of boys and girls - who, like me, are not quite like the 'mainstream' crowds, but awesome nonetheless. Luckily, most of them are in my Performing Arts class, so I should have plenty of laughs - and build my confidence at the same time!

After months of being targeted by idiots who had nothing better to do with their time, it astounds me that I've escaped such a miserable environment and am now in a place that, until Thursday, I believed that only dreams could create. I can't begin to describe how wonderful being accepted for who I am is, without words such as 'socialisation' being flung at me by ill-educated teachers at my former school. Since starting Sociology, I've actually discovered the true meaning of the word - the process of becoming a member of society. If I was to be ridiculed for refusing to follow the crowd, why should 'socialisation' even be mentioned by a world-class idiot? Oh well, I'm having the final laugh - the GCSE league tables at the old school won't be boosted by my grades!

Just before I forget it, another brilliant positive is that, instead of Googling methods of disappearing off the face of Earth on a Sunday evening, I'm actually looking forward to returning on Monday. Two days are simply not enough - like a caffeine addict, I want more, more, more!

Loving school is exactly what I wanted when I joined my old school six months ago, but sadly it wasn't meant to be; if it wasn't for looking elsewhere, who knows what impact it could have had on my studies? At least now I wake up in the morning with an optimism that kickstarts my enthusiasm to learn - which all children should have. I'm just glad that I finally got it.