In my 15 years of life, I have lived in four different houses in three different states. Moving around so much has shaped who I am today. Each house holds different memories, challenges, and lessons that have helped me grow.

My first house was in Minnesota. I was too young to remember living there, but from the stories I’ve heard, it sounds like it was a special place. My older brother remembers a lot more than I do and often talks about the fun times he had there. Even though I don’t have clear memories of it myself, it still feels like an important part of my story because it’s where my life began.

We moved to Beaverton, Oregon, when my dad got a new job. Some of my earliest memories are from that yellow house. I remember the trampoline in the backyard, where I would jump almost every single day. It felt like my own little world. I made friends in the neighborhood and started to feel comfortable there. But when I was in second grade, we found out that our landlord wanted to sell the house. My family couldn’t afford to buy it, so we had to move again. That was one of the first times I experienced how hard change can be. I still miss some of the friends I had there, and sometimes I wonder if they remember me, too.

After that, we moved to Vernonia, Oregon, a small town where everyone seemed to know each other. At first, it was difficult to fit in. I felt like the new kid who didn’t quite belong. It took time, but eventually I found my group of friends. That’s also where I started playing football. At first, I was hesitant and even thought about quitting because it was tough and I wasn’t sure I was good enough. But I didn’t want to be a quitter. I stuck with it, pushed through the hard practices, and slowly improved. Football became more than just a sport to me—it became part of who I am. It taught me discipline, teamwork, and perseverance. I still talk to some of the friends I made there, and those friendships mean a lot to me.

Middle school brought new challenges. My grades started to slip, and I almost got held back. I had to go to summer school after eighth grade, which was a wake-up call for me. Around that same time, my parents got divorced, and we moved to Long Beach, Washington. I was nervous about starting over again, but I joined the football team before school even started. That helped me make friends quickly and feel less alone. I haven’t been there very long, and so I don’t know how this part of my story will end. But so far, so good.

Even though I’ve faced hard times and big changes, things always seem to work out in the end. Moving so often has taught me how to adapt, stay strong, and keep going no matter what. Each place I’ve lived has helped shape me into the person I am today.

© Renaud. All rights reserved. If you are interested in quoting this story, contact the national team and we can put you in touch with the author’s teacher.