BY ERIKA ANDERSON

Staff Writer

ATLANTA--The transition from middle school to high school is inevitable.

Eighth-grade students, once at the top of the totem pole of elementary school, must learn to accept their definitive new roles as lowly freshmen in high school.

Philip Consuegra, 14, a graduate of Christ the King School (CKS), is beginning his high school career at St. Pius X High School. Like most new freshmen, Consuegra is experiencing a mixture of emotions, among them, anxiety, excitement and anticipation.

He has spent a busy summer at his alma mater, preparing CKS for his successors, washing desks and windows and getting the school ready for the first day of classes. He wanted to help the school which has been his home since the second grade. And although he is excited to be attending St. Pius, Consuegra said it makes him a little sad to close the CKS chapter of his life.

“My class was one of the most united that CKS had ever seen...I’m going to miss that class unity,” he said. “I’m going to miss a lot of the teachers. They really coached us to be our best and it was phenomenal the way they taught us.”

Consuegra was actively involved in academic and extra-curricular activities as a member of the student council, student to student program and Tech Team. He competed in spelling and geography bees and was a multiple winner of essay and oratorical contests. Although he plans to participate in several activities at St. Pius, citing the tennis team, freshman council and Model United Nations as possibilities, Consuegra said it will be nice to be out of the limelight that surrounded him at CKS.

“It will be weird not to be in the spotlight, but refreshing. I will be able to focus more on academics,” he said. “Maybe my senior year I’ll shine at Pius, but for now I’m looking forward to not being known.”

Consuegra said he was basically looking forward to everything about high school, except, “getting picked on by the seniors.” He also worries about living up to expectations.

“To be a star student is what every student dreams about, but I am worried about living up to the standard of St. Pius and myself--good grades and the honor roll,” he said. “If I don’t do that, I’ll be disappointed.”

He also is somewhat anxious about going from a school with 500 students to a school with 1,000 students.

“I’m a little nervous about the adjustments. I won’t know any teachers. At CKS, everyone knows everyone else and I’m the type of person who likes to know everyone,” he said. “At Pius, I won’t.”

Consuegra, the only child of George and Cookie Consuegra, said that it is his mother who is most worried about high school.

“Now that I am out of elementary school, she is stressed because she doesn’t have a baby anymore,” he said. “She’s so worried that I am not going to fit in, but I will.”

Mrs. Consuegra said that she is not worried, just amazed by how quickly her son has grown up.

“I am really proud of him. He’s done so well at CKS and he shows a lot of promise to do well at Pius. It just came sooner than I thought,” she said. “I’m not sad he’s leaving (CKS), I’m sad he’s growing up so fast. I was just thinking that he only has four years left before he leaves home.”

College is something that Consuegra is thinking about as well, but for now, he said that he wants to concentrate on the present.

“I’m thinking about the present, but also about the future-- thinking about college,” he said. “During my freshman year, though, I’m just trying to survive.”

Overall, Consuegra is excited about high school. He said he has been told that it will be the best four years of his life.

“I’m going in there with a clean slate and a good stride. I get to go in anew. It’s kind of like New Years Eve,” he said. “I’m happy I’m at Pius. I’m just happy I made it in.”