I moved around a lot growing up. Over all of it, I have moved schools I think six times. The older I got, the harder it became to accept a big change like that. My last move I made has got to be the hardest. I had a rough time fitting in and starting new. I was really upset about the whole situation, and I handled it as any child would have- poorly.

My family used to live in a pretty house in a suburb with a large school. I had been there for a few years, so I had a strong core group of friends I saw every day. I was in all the advanced classes I could get as a sixth grader, and I was learning so much. At some point, my step dad and mom decided they wanted to move far away, get a bunch of land, and build a house. I was opposed to this idea, but, seeing as their minds were made up, there was nothing for me to do about it.

It was the summer of 2019, right after the sixth grade. Our new living situation was far from ideal. We went from a big house with a pretty yard to a trailer and a tiny house my step dad built, from a decently large school to the smallest school I have ever seen, and from a largely populated suburb to the middle of nowhere. My new school had an average of maybe 40-50 kids in each graduating class. I remember when I attended the open house before the new year started, which would have been my seventh grade. It was hard for me to adjust and get used to this new place. After already being visibly upset, one of my parents said to me, “You’re gonna have to suck it up and make new friends here, since you don’t have your old ones now,” and that broke my heart. I ran out of the building in tears.

Starting this new school was not a good thing for me. I felt like I had already learned all of the things in my classes, as there weren’t really any advanced options here. I had a terrible attitude towards everyone because I was so angry at my situation. I was such a brat, and everyone thought so. I was very open about my dislike for this new place. I would cry myself to sleep every night because of how unhappy I was. I saw multiple therapists about all of it and it didn’t make me feel better. I would get mad really quick, and I am not proud of the ways I acted.

Over time (and I mean many years), I grew up. I learned there was nothing I could do about it so I shouldn’t make it harder than it was. I learned to suck it up and find some good things. I made some really good friends and school acquaintances. I focused on good grades and trying to be happy. Rather than saying I accepted it, it’s more like I just got used to it. After years, I finally started to belong, almost. I wasn’t new anymore. I had established to myself that this was my life now, and I carried on.

My attitude about it all got better. I had to grow up to learn. I feel like I handled it a lot better than some others would have. I stayed out of trouble and kept up with my good grades. The point I will always remember from this experience in my life is that change is so hard, but it’s life. In certain situations you don’t need to change it. You must accept it or learn to grow with it. Moving will always be something that grew my understanding and who I am.

© Caela. 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.