She takes a deep breath as she gets out of the car. She looks up at her new school then turns her head to glance at her parents, who give her an encouraging smile. With her head high, sophomore Averi Gregory walks into her new school looking forward to what this next stage in her life will bring.
Sophomore Averi Gregory and freshman Esperanza Villalobos moved to Texas from Oregon and Ohio.
“The thing I like most about Lindale schools is the different things you get to do,” Villalobos said. “It is a really nice school where you get to pick what you want to learn.”
Gregory moved to Lindale from Bend, Oregon. Her school was new so they only allowed freshman and sophomores for the first year, however they added more grades this upcoming school year.
“I was part of a smaller swim team separate from my school,” Gregory said. “I swam for five years. When I was 10 years old, I won a second place award in backstroke.”
Gregory is involved in the key club this year and might join the track team. In Oregon, Gregory participated in swimming, track and field, and cross country.
“I’ve been trying to get out of my comfort zone and try new things,” Gregory said. “Key club seemed like a great way to do that.”
During the weekends, Gregory would spend time outdoors with her family and friends. They would go camping or visit the lake. With her friends, they would spend time together during the summer and after school.
“My favorite thing to do was spend the entire day with friends,” Gregory said. “Usually riding bikes around town and then going to the pool and swimming,” Gregory continued. “In Oregon it was too cold for people to have their own pools so we would go to the public pool. Afterwards we would get dinner and ride bikes until it got dark.”
Villalobos moved to Lindale from Lima, Ohio. She moved here due to her parents’ engagement.
“I’m excited about the marriage,” Villalobos said. “We have been wanting to move here for a while and there wasn’t really a need to but then all of a sudden they met and now we get to be here.”
Villalobos is currently participating in art, theater, and audio and visual this year. In her old school, she participated in arts and crafts.
“My favorite thing about theater is probably the people,” Villalobos said. “It is really fun to have new friends and meet other people who like the same things as you.”
In her free time, Villalobos hangs out with friends and family or paints. With her family, they head down to the lake during the weekends or during the summer.
“I like it here very much,” Villalobos said. “I do think that it is kind of hot in Texas compared to Ohio but it’s a lot bigger than the small state.”
Villalobos plans to become a teacher or a daycare worker when she’s older. Gregory is not sure what she wants to do yet. They are both still deciding what college they want to attend.
“I think I want to stay in Texas when I’m older,” Villalobos said. “I’m not too sure where but wherever I feel comfortable but I think that now that I’m here in Texas that I’m probably going to stay here.”
