Navigating third grade feels like a whole new world, and figuring out where I fit in with friends and what's expected is a constant balancing act. Even though grown-up worries sometimes seep into our home, finding my own creative escape in my drawings and learning to mend fences with friends like Leo reminds me that I'm shaping my own story. It's a lot for an eight-year-old, but I'm starting to see I have a say in how things unfold.