The Importance Of Moving To America

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I was in a strange new environment with diverse people all around me. I was ten years old, and my family and I had just arrived in America to allow me to live a life full of opportunity; everything seemed very overwhelming. My dad announced, “This is our new home now,” and I felt as if the walls were closing in on me. I could not possibly imagine living in a foreign country where I might be made to feel alienated. I asked myself, “Will I be able to immerse in the daily life of this unknown area?”

I had just moved from Gujarat, India, where everything seemed so boisterous, to a much tranquil place, Avon, Indiana. We were living in my aunt’s basement thinking of how our lives would change. It was my first day of school, and my anxiousness evidently showed on my face. My older cousin helped me comprehend the fundamental necessities such as school rules in order to begin a new school in a new country. The assurance she gave me still was not enough to extinguish the fire of anxiety burning inside me.

In my beginning years of intermediate school, I was shy and refrained from any interaction. Adapting to a new culture and language seemed challenging at a young age. I would remain silent in class and sit in a corner during recess. I observed the other kids playing and wondered when that would be me. I knew I had to put in more effort to socialize with my peers; however, my flawed English prevented me from doing it. I made a decision to learn the language in order to communicate with others. My cousin, who had been living in America for a long time, assisted me in achieving my objective. It helped make a crack in my introverted shell. I consider my cousin my role model as she served as my real life guardian angel. There were situations when she would stay up until two o’clock in the morning helping me with my English homework, while scolding me every time I made an error. I used to get frustrated, and I even cried sometimes, but I realized that it helped me become more focused in school. From celebrating birthdays to dinner dates with my family, she would always take the time out of her Medical School studies to fulfill our wishes. She always said, “You have to set goals and work hard in order to be successful,” and that motivated me to cope with my surroundings. As the days passed, I started becoming more comfortable and less alienated with the people around me. I started participating in class and I was more proactive. All that I am
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I can now say that I have finally broken out of my shell and gained my wings. Moving to America, studying here, living here has made me liberated, resilient not to mention stronger and instilled within me the self-confidence I never had before. The hardships I had to face while moving to a new continent has taught me to fight my fear of adapting to sudden changes and has prepared me to combat any hurdles that come in my way. I have learned that life is unpredictable but keeping on a positive attitude will make the journey easier. Moreover, my cousin helped me become confident and independent in a new atmosphere. At Indiana University, I want to share my knowledge and self-confidence that my cousin taught me, with those who also struggle to fit in. How often can one say an experience did that to

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