The first day of school in a new building full of new faces, or with college knocking at the door, is always a time of adventure, mixing both hopes and fears. Even the bravest of us get the first day jitters.

The Current is profiling four students embarking on new environments: a young girl entering kindergarten, a boy facing the first day of middle school, a girl entering the world of high school and a young woman about to face the hurdles of applying to colleges and surviving her senior year in high school. In next week’s paper, we will be following these students and reporting on how they fared in their first days in their new roles.

Name: Riley Dall

Age: 5

Grade: Kindergarten. Cape Elizabeth Pond Cove Elementary School

What she’s looking forward to: “Meeting people and learning about shapes and what 100 and 100 equals.”

What she’s nervous about: “Meeting new kids and riding on a school bus.”