I was almost there. I had been nervously anticipating this day or a couple months now, but the time had finally come. As I sat on the plane, my thoughts wandered to what my new life would be like. My parents had sent me to the United States to attend an American high school. I was grateful for receiving this opportunity, but also fearful of what if might hold because I wasn’t great at English and the words I did know were clouded in my thick German accent. I know I would miss my old friends from Berlin, and I worried about how I would make new friends in Dexter, the small town I would be living in for the next four years as I attended Dexter High School. Once my plane had landed and I had gotten out of the airport, I spotted my aunt and uncle waiting for me outside with a big sign. My name, Jacob, had been written in big black marker. It was great to see them since the last time we had met was a long time ago. We drove all the way to Dexter as they proceeded to ask me the usual questions: how my flight went, if I had met any new friends, and so on. All I wanted was to get home to study my flashcards that I had been using on the plane. This next week was leading up to one of the pivotal moments in my life, because I would go to my first day at my new high school. I wasn’t sure what to expect. As my alarm sounded the next day, I felt a sense of dread running through my body. I got dressed and ate breakfast as my aunt and uncle woke up to take me to school. I grabbed all my
I realized I would probably never see most of them again, especially the British counselors, many of whom had never been to America before that summer. Of course I could go back next summer if I wanted to, but it wouldn’t be the same. Everyone would be replaced with a whole new group of people that I would come to know and love then never see again. As these realizations hit me, I started to feel numb. After saying goodbye to everyone, fetching my luggage, and scrubbing off the mold that had started to grow on my shower basket, I slumped over to my mom’s good old gray Kia Sportage.
Fifty-two chapters, thousands of girls, timeless friendships through sisterhood, one big family. I’ve always known that I wanted to move away from home for greater opportunities and experiences. Although my parents were very optimistic about my decisions and the route I chose, it was difficult to leave home. The five-hour flight alone, the lonesome nights without my family, the horrifying first day speeches and upperclassmen, having no car to get around, and maybe the possibility of not liking your dorm roommates.
The moment I walked into this new small town school; I felt strained. I went from PS 60
in Queens to some place called Cocalico Middle school. I walked into my first day hoping I’d be
indifferent, but feelings don’t work that way. The first thing I noticed was the lack of diversity; I
noticed this when I was at school and then when I went to the local grocery store. I observed
everything, but tried not to make myself noticed.
Breath was rushing out the kid who wore a Gray and blue uniform, the boy 's hair was black and poked straight up in twisted curls, he had brown eyes that looked like dirt, he was strong and athletic, his name was D’haquille Jones, and I was DhaQuille Jones, staring down at the newly glazed floorboards of John Pickett high school gym. The ref blew the whistle signaling that our time out was over, and all we had was thirteen precious seconds to beat the Valencia high. I jogged onto the court, adrenaline rushing through my body. The ref tossed the ball towards Chris, once he had found the open man he lobbed it over the oncoming defender. Calling for the ball I sprinted around my defender to get open.
In the story mice of men by John Steinbeck was about two people named George and Lennie which are the main characters throughout this story. They seem to have a lot of trouble to keeping a job. They find a job and it was going well at first they were keeping their heads low not getting into any trouble. This was going well until they got themselves into a sticky situation and a very hard situation had to be made. John Steinbeck showed us that brotherhood/ friendship is very important and that some people are closer to you and are always there for you, also he shows that some people are really your friends and will do anything to protect you.
Shortly, after that morning my parents became divorced and I was left to fend for myself, I was just, forgotten.
A couple of weeks after that my stepmother who I could have sworn was an evil witch took me in. I could see a mysterious glare in her eyes like this was a part of a plan. She enrolled me in this lovely new school
This was going to be indeed a huge challenge for me. The next day I kept wondering what would it be like in America and how my friends would react if I thought them bye. At the time I was in first grade so leaving my friends would be bad for me. I knew simple English so America wouldn't be as hard for someone who didn’t know any english at all. The whole class time I would be thinking of America and wouldn't pass attention to what the teacher would say.
As I boarded the plane to visit the last school on my college trip, I was tired. I had spent a week bouncing from motel to motel with my exhausted parents, and I didn’t think I’d find any more colleges that interested me. I thought that I’d seen it all.
But seeing New Orleans on my way to campus revitalized me.
As I saw the world of America as soon we landed, I knew that I had an opportunity to succeed if I tried my best. My mom, my dad, my brother; no one knew how to speak English. We had to get help from my aunt to find a house and fill in the application for attending school. I attended Strawberry Point Elementary School in San Francisco without knowing any English. I was scared, yet determined to succeed.
Imagine what it is like to be seven years old moving to a country where you don’t know anyone, you don’t understand the language, and everything seems foreign. When I first arrived to the United States, I didn’t have friends due to my inability to speak English. It wasn’t an easy journey, but my determination to achieve the American Dream gave me strength to keep going. I decided to take English courses during my free time, and now I am a great writer who is fluent in both English and Spanish.
Imagine me as a seven years old little girl that was told by her mother that we will be moving to the United States and live there. Moving from Vietnam to the United States was a very long trip for me, at the age that you don’t know much about life. All I can think of when my mother saying that we will be moving to the United States is that there will be a lot of fun, I don’t have to school and life will be very easy. But that not the case, moving to a place that is not your hometown and don’t speak their language is very hard and challenging. It’s so challenging that I was fell one grade behind because they said I can’t speak English well and cannot listen to what they said, I feel kind of shame toward myself until now.
Candy wrappers were in the floor, old water bottles still in the cupholders, and jackets, basketballs, and bags piled in the back. It didn’t matter though because we were about to have the time of our lives.
The first hour was boring as always. It was boring mostly because there was no new roads to drive or sights to see. It was along first hour, too.
That day, she told me to take it one step at a time and not to be afraid to step out of my comfort zone and push my limits; this gave me the comfort to move on with my life.
That next week, I was immediately enrolled in middle school in the United State. My schedule consisted of the same old boring, bland things, “get to my classes, and then go home.” I never made time for company, I didn’t socialize with anyone, nor did I join any activities or clubs.
In honor of National Donut Day, of course we 're gonna talk about food here in The Lab...
The final day before a big running race are always filled with nervous anticipation, especially if it’s your first time running a long-distance half-marathon, marathon or ultramarthon race. Over time, as you run and race more, you get used to it, and the pre-race nerves are replaced with pre-race hyperactivity, excitement, heavy social media use and lots of selfie taking #_______ (fill in race name). Otherwise, maybe you’re too hard on yourself and you should quit wearing a watch like we did? Heh.
Why am I still going to this charter school which doesn 't provide
transportation? Why couldn 't my dad be here picking me up instead of the
hospital? My future seemed highly uncertain and my grades were dropping. I
tried my best to power through my newest challenge. I reminded myself of a past
challenge of working through and successfully adapting to America.
