The highlight of my day was science class with Sierra, my last class of the day. The teacher was a guy about my dad’s age, with dark black hair and a mustache that was actually a pretty cool-looking mustache, not a creepy one.

“I’m Mr. Olabarietta, but everyone calls me Mr. O.,” he began. “Please take a seat where you feel comfortable.”

I looked at Sierra and beamed. We could sit together! Some boys got the best seats in the back row, but we found two seats next to each other right in the middle of the classroom.

“We’ve got a lot of exciting topics coming up this year,” Mr. O. continued, “but I like to begin the first day of school by getting to know you. Please introduce yourselves by name and tell me what your animal mascot is.”

“What if we don’t have a pet?” somebody asked.

Mr. O. shook his head. “No, I mean an animal that you relate to, that you feel shares some of your personality traits,” he explained. “For example, my animal mascot is a cheetah, because I like to run. Now, who wants to go first?”

There was an awkward moment as just about everybody stared down at their desk, hoping they wouldn’t be called—including me. I know I can be outgoing at times, and I like getting attention on my blog, but Allie recently explained to me that I am what is known as an ambivert—someone who is half introverted and half extroverted. The introverted part of me can spend hours and even days happily by myself, creating things. And sometimes I can get shy.

Sierra, however, is a true extrovert, and she raised her hand.

“My name is Sierra Perez, and my animal mascot is a cat—not a big cat, like a cheetah, but a house cat,” she said.

“And why is that?” Mr. O. asked.

“I have this new kitten, Marshmallow, and she’s so curious and excited about everything,” Sierra said. “And that’s just like me!”

You know when they say a person’s smile lights up a room? That’s Sierra. She beamed when she was talking about her kitten, charming everybody. It’s like this special magic that she has.

The extrovert in me wanted to get in on some of that magic, so I raised my hand.

“My name is Tamiko Sato, and my animal mascot is also a cat,” I said.

“Why?” Mr. O. asked. “Do you also have an adorable kitten at home?”

“No, it’s because I rule over my house, I never obey commands, and I love treats,” I said, and everyone in class laughed—including Mr. O. I’d nailed it!

“Well, I did not expect that,” he said, wiping his eyes. “I think we found our class clown.”