I was born in Tyrone PA, I lived there till my father got a job at a construction business. It was a an opportunity of a lifetime for my father he would be a business partner of the company and the supervisor of operations of the crew that traveled all over the United States. There was a catch to all of this that the jobs took years to complete, so this ment we would have to relocate to wherever he had to go for work. I have been through some scary and frightening things in my lifetime, but this was the first time i ever remember being frightened.
I was six years old and lived in the same place since i was born. I was leaving everything i known my family, friends, and my first school. I was still really young but i remember not knowing the difficulty of being accepted in a new school and community. For instance, a young person may be intimidated when walking into a room where he or she knows no one, but with time and practice soon, the young person will feel more comfortable. The first couple of times my family and i relocated to different areas i was scared and frightened.
Soon i learned that the most important thing is to simply smile, and enter new situations with a positive attitude. To start, I have moved ten times in my life, experiencing three different high schools, one middle and five elementary schools. Nevertheless, moving in high school is one of the most difficult experiences. In the beginning it is a challenge to adjust and make new friends, but after a few weeks things change and become more routine. Yet, some people are not welcome, simply because they already have there cliques and circle of friends.
It can seem that the last thing they want is to add one more member, especially someone with a funny accent. But, eventually they begin to accept the differences and realize that the new person is not so bad after all. They begin to open there clique and they too learn that people who are different are not all that bad. Just as things became routine, my parents would deliver the news yet again, “We are sorry Jeremy but we are going to be moving again. ” Those exact words were said so many times in my life. Knowing that my whole world would ounce again be turned up side down.
To some people that may seem weird, but for me it is all to monotonous. Due to all of the moves excitement in my life is necessary. Moving to different areas gave me the motivation to get up in the morning and to go out and meet new and interesting people. The realization that it is up to the person to make things happen can really be the motivational push that someone needs. Imagine this: Entering a room full of people that have known each other for years, and being introduced as the “new boy. ” It is uncomfortable and that is the joy of it.
Learning how to be comfortable with my own insecurities is something that was acquired throughout many different moves. I would spend hours staring at all of my clothes trying to find the picture perfect outfit to wear my first day of classes. One realizes later that it does not matter what one wears the first day; it is the attitude portrayed to the new people. It is up to one’s own self to make this experience a good one. It is expected for new students to come home during the first week and be distraught and i did cry because i missed my old friends. Yet. The unusual hing is that the only reason I really cried was because I felt it was the right thing to do. My parents would always make sure my happiness was the first thing they made sure happened, and i honestly just wanted receive the attention that i thought I deserved.
Although being torn away from my friends and being introduced into a new and scary environment. is intimidating depression never struck me. I always had a positive outlook on meeting new people and was almost excited sometimes when I could get to start all over again. Many people argue, saying it is wrong that my father’s job was so emanding and that we had to move numerous times. Even though he did the choice to stay or go, I am happy that we chose to make the decision to move. The transitions taught me a lot about life and made me who I am today. I was introduced to many different types of people and learned just how diverse communities across America are. For example, everyone in the South refers to Northerners as rude and mean people, But the truth of the matter is that they are the same as Northerners, except they are cotton farmers, live on ranches, and say ya’ll way to much!
There are two sides to every story. On the contrary, fortunately for me, I have lived through both aspects, and realize that the only dissimilarity is one place gets colder than the other. Moving to different places around the world teaches everyone to love and respect each other. One learns to deal with their insecurities in the best way. Instead of being saddened by my family moving so much, I rejoice that i had the opportunity that many people do not receive. It was a Learning experience of a lifetime.
