I grew up all over Long Island, moving every two years to a different town and starting in a different school. Before moving school districts, I was told terrible things about Amityville and the school system. This made me really nervous about starting.

They said it was a “bad” school. That the students were bad and never behaved. They spoke of Amityville as if it were toxic. They had this presumption that Amityville was a place no one would ever voluntarily go. So I got nervous.
My first day here, I went into the office. Everyone was nice to me and I got a tour from someone last minute that was more than happy to take their time to show me around. I was introduced to their friends. People immediately welcomed me; people wanted to get to know me and wanted me to get to know them. It was like being welcomed into a family.

I have more friends than I’ve ever had before in my life, so many people that I can go to. I feel comfortable and supported here. All of the teachers are funny and are so understanding. You can tell that they actually care. They genuinely want you to do well and to feel your best. I’ve been to schools where each grade, I had one teacher to go to. Now, I stop by the classrooms of my teachers, I go out of my way to talk to them and they go out of their way to talk to me. They’re always making sure that I’m alright. They express how proud they are. I’ve seen them comfort other students or try to help. The teachers are like friends here because they just seem to understand more and they’re more flexible.

I only wish I would have come here sooner because I love it here! But it’s alright because I feel like I’ve known these people forever, and if anything, I couldn’t imagine ending my high school career any other way.

Amityville isn’t a bad neighborhood with bad kids and teachers who don’t care. It’s nothing like that. Sure, everywhere has a bad egg, but you walk into those halls and someone’s bound to smile at you. You sit in a classroom for a day and you already have a friend that you didn’t have before. I’m so grateful for all of the wonderful people I have met in the school. I’m grateful for the support, the atmosphere that makes coming to school so much more with it, and all of the other awesome pros that come with being an AMHS student.

It’s sad hearing all of the Amityville misconceptions, all of the negative connotations the school and community present. However, none of those people have ever been to Amityville, obviously, or met any of us. All we can do is show them, and I think that’s all it will take.