Hermit Crabs

By Izy

In my first grade classroom there was a tank of hermit crabs. My teacher had kept hermit crabs every year. These animals were the first class pet I ever had. That year, my family got our first dog, so both my dog and the hermies helped teach me about responsibility. A couple weeks into 1^st grade I noticed things were harder and I was having trouble with the work. Just like hermit crabs so I had to move at a slower pace to get to where I needed to go. Any time we’d take the crabs out of their cage so they can walk around, they’d be super confused; like I was with certain problems. They were extremely shy and would hide anytime someone got near them. I was always shy towards adults, older students, and new people.

            The hermit crabs all had different painted shells. I always thought of the shells as different personalities. There was a small one who had a purple and green zig-zag shell, which I considered to be my personality (because I was always spazzy and creative).  When hermit crabs get bigger they change shells, which is like changing your personality.

            As I went through Elementary School, I always checked up on the hermit crabs. It made me sad when I found out one had died, just like it made me sad when people had to leave the school. Going through my time in St. Martins I’ve looked back to the time when I was little and having a bad day. Then I’d just look at the hermit crabs and smile. Being at this school I’ve come to realize that this school is like a shell, that this school encourages your personality, protects you, and eventually I’ll have to leave this shell that’s kept me safe for so long.