Knock, knock.

I open the door. It is Mr. Woodsum, a retired teacher from Media Academy who is now making home visits to students, usually those with academic or attendance problems.

I feel nervous and kind of scared because I know he has come to my house to talk to my parents.

He comes in and my mother greets him. Soon he starts telling her that he is here to talk about my absences.

At first I am overwhelmed with mixed feelings, but in the end I am happy because I know that all of my teachers had asked for the home visit because they are worried about me. I have missed more than 30 days of school.

Mr. Woodsum shows my mother my grades and the comments my teachers have made about me. She doesn't look happy.

When I hear that he is going to tell us about what my teachers have to say I become quiet.

My teachers have told Woodsum that my grades could be better if I came to school more often. Woodsum tells us this and we nod in agreement.

Woodsum asks why I haven’t been coming to school, and my mother explains.

As they are talking, I am thinking about going to college and if I keep missing school, I won't have as many opportunities in the future.

I think about my future and decide to start going to school no matter what little things come up.

I start writing an assigned news story that night about the home visit and think of how I never expected to be a part of my own story.

It has already been 40 days since the home visit and I have missed only three days.

My journalism teacher, Lisa Shafer, said that she is very happy with my improved attendance.

“Elizabeth is a great student, but I was worried that her attendance rate could affect her future,” said Shafer.

When I hear that my teachers are happy about my improvement I feel that this home visit was worth it.

The home visit program is very helpful and students should take the visits seriously.

This experience was very valuable because it made me realize that if I keep missing school, I wull have less opportunities in the future.