The best thing in my life happened to be the worst thing that I thought would never happen to me. I lived in sunny Southern California for most of my life, until I moved just before I turned 13. My parents told my sister and I that we were moving and to us it came out of the blue: tears and unspeakable words are all that I remember. After a year or two I began to settle down in my new home of Fort Collins, Colorado. I try not to reflect back on my first year because I was homesick beyond belief, everything I knew lied in California. The topic of my first year moving only came back because one of my cousins decided to move in over the summer and start over. Her pondering the decision of moving back to California bothers me. If a new teenager can tough it out, she can as well, but it is in no way easy.

One of the worst things about starting over in a new place is not having friends. Though some people see making friends as something that is easy, the factor of moving is a bit of a shock, and social skills seem to go down the drain once there is a new environment. From knowing everyone to knowing no one, it hurts like a sharp pain to the stomach, and that pain caused me to go into a shell. The shell would consist of my old friends in California, the ones who I knew were always there for me. As much as it’s nice to stay in contact with old friends and family, forcing yourself to not constantly talk to them can help you find new friends. It seems harsh, I know, but the yearn for conversation will push a person out of their cozy shell. As easy as it sounds, it’s the hardest thing to do.For me, I had to constantly remind myself that pushing myself socially will be for the better. As much as I suffered years ago, I won’t change that now, because I’ve made friends that I value, and they hopefully value me in return.

An unknown environment can be terrifying, and by no means easy to navigate. I remember the feeling of being lost in my own neighborhood because I just felt like I didn’t belong. Exploration is within means even if it’s alone or with family. Finding an area in a new town that brings comfort is vital- it will become a go to place hopefully. My sister and I found ourselves at the Council Tree Library where books and coffee became a part of our routine when we were alone. As the months passed, we kept discovering new places to explore in Fort Collins, and with each new discovery came more comfort within our new town. I wouldn’t necessarily say that we fell in love with Colorado, but we found that we were able to tolerate our new home.  

Here is the difference from my cousin: I had the opportunity to share the heartbreak with someone I’ve known all my life, she does not. My cousin, as strong and smart as she is, is suffering on her own. The pain, the heartbreak, or the small victories of making a new friend are on her own from what I observed. When my cousin made the bold decision to move, I admired her, I never thought that she would ponder giving up on this adventure. I believe that she only thinks about moving back because of her family, I understand that it’s hard being apart from family, but I do think that she is able to push through that barrier and find a successful life away from her family in another state.

I’m very happy I live in Colorado. the fact that I no longer live in California is fine with me now and I don’t see myself moving back. I do hope that I make more memories and maybe move elsewhere, and I really hope for the same of my cousin. This article is for her, hopefully to encourage her and let her know that I believe in her ability to stick through it. Moving was the hardest thing to happen in my life, but I am so thankful that I had that experience so I can grow to become a stronger person. As for her, I understand the difficulty she is facing, as much as I want her to stay, the decision of moving is her choice.