I remember the first day of Year 6 like it was yesterday. The classroom buzzed with the noise of old friends reuniting after the summer holidays. I spotted my best mate, Liam, across the room and waved. We had been friends since kindergarten, and I thought that was all I needed. Then the teacher introduced a new student. His name was Rohan, and he stood by the door with his head down, clutching a worn-out backpack. I barely glanced at him. I was too busy catching up with Liam and planning our lunchtime soccer game. Looking back, I almost missed the chance to know someone who would change my year completely.

For the first few weeks, Rohan sat alone at lunch. He didn't join our soccer games or laugh at our jokes. I noticed him reading a book about space exploration, and I thought it was a bit weird. One day, our teacher assigned us a science project on the solar system. She said we had to work in pairs, and I got paired with Rohan. My heart sank. I wanted to work with Liam, but the teacher insisted. I remember sighing loudly as I dragged my chair next to Rohan's desk. He looked up and gave me a small, nervous smile. I didn't smile back. I was too focused on what I thought I was missing out on.

As we started working on the project, I realised Rohan knew a lot about space. He explained how black holes form and why Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet. I found myself actually listening. He showed me diagrams he had drawn in his notebook, and they were amazing. Soon, we were staying after school to finish our model of the solar system. Rohan brought in a packet of biscuits to share, and we talked about our favourite movies and video games. I discovered he had a great sense of humour. By the time we presented our project, we had become friends. I felt a bit guilty for judging him so quickly.

I noticed him reading a book about space exploration, and I thought it was a bit weird.

Our friendship grew stronger over the term. Rohan taught me how to play chess, and I taught him how to do a proper soccer kick. We started sitting together at lunch, and Liam joined us too. The three of us became a tight group. I learned that Rohan's family had moved here from India, and he missed his old school and friends. He told me that on his first day, he felt invisible. I remembered how I had ignored him, and I felt terrible. I promised myself I would never judge someone so quickly again. Sometimes the best friendships are the ones you don't see coming.

Now, as the school year winds down, I think about how close I came to missing out on knowing Rohan. If I had stayed stuck in my old habits, I would have never learned about black holes or chess or the delicious samosas his mum makes. More importantly, I would have missed having a friend who always makes me laugh, even on bad days. This year taught me that first impressions can be wrong. The friend I nearly missed became one of my closest mates. I hope I never make that mistake again.