Back in August I overheard a conversation between my parents, they were talking about the newest and hottest topic of this year: what neighborhoods are going to be redistricted to go to South Forsyth High School and Lambert (and yes before you continue reading this article, it will be very biased as I am in the main neighborhood that is up for debate, Three Chimneys.) When I heard that we were on the list my world felt like it had been turned upside down. I had just gotten settled into the Lambert cycle and had so much pride and joy of being a Longhorn. Being a Longhorn meant so much and still means so much to me and that is something that I want to share with my friends and younger siblings who were pulled out of school in order to go to Lambert once they’re older.

Up until the seventh grade I lived in the same house and went to the same school, nothing had changed except for the grade levels and the addition of two other siblings. When we packed everything up on the day of moving I was terrified and excited, thrilled to make new friends but also terrified at the thought of leaving behind everyone and everything I once knew. I was taking a huge leap of leaving a school with sixty people in my grade to around three hundred people. My middle school experience to say the east was not the most enjoyable and I was ecstatic to get to start over for the second time by going to Lambert High School. I left my middle school self at middle school and made new and amazing friends that brought out the best in me. I learned what it meant to have school spirit and true friends. It was at Lambert that I learned what interests me and what I want to be when I grow up thanks to my amazing teachers freshmen year. Now though thanks to redistricting my younger friends and siblings won’t be able to experience the pride and joy of being a part of Lambert High School.

So many people in our neighborhood are fighting for the chance to stay at Lambert because of how amazing a school it is, yes it might not have an IB program but our pathway choices are amazing and the focus of science here is even better. My mom and countless other people have been talking to the board, providing data and facts of why this isn’t a smart decision, and even going from house to house getting everyone in a family to pass out petitions. All of this so far has resulted in nothing, the board of education has not budged or even considered opening their minds to keeping the neighborhood closet to Lambert and the neighborhood closet to South to go to South. They have thrown away the mountain of petitions, protests, and pleading of us. Our voices have been put on mute as they do not wish to hear us speak up and against them.

Yes, I do believe that moving Three Chimney’s to South Forsyth High School is the stupidest and worst decision that could possibly be made as I can walk to Lambert High School within fifteen minutes. I have amazing friends at Lambert and this is where I have planted my seeds. I’ve invested my time and money into amazing programs, such as drumline, fencing, and the science program as have many other people. Moving us is taking away all of these people from something they love and if they can’t think of a valid enough reason to be allowed to stay at Lambert then we aren’t going to be allowed to go back if Three Chimneys does happen to be moved to South Forsyth High School. If our neighborhood is moved there will be tons of out of district forms that will pile onto the desks of the board of education, many of those from Three Chimneys.

There are so many alternatives to this ridiculous riddle yet the main answer is so much simpler then you would think. There are neighborhoods that can walk to South that are staying in the Lambert district while the closet neighborhood to Lambert is being moved. I leave you with this burning question then, should Three Chimney’s be redistricted while the other farther neighborhoods are not?