When I was 11 years and living in Norfolk, Virginia at that time, I found out from my parents that we were going to be moving to Chandler, Arizona. The reason was that they needed better high-paying jobs since money was very tight back then. For her new job, my mom went to the academy for six months to become a law enforcement officer. Because there were only a limited number of offices hiring, she chose the one in Phoenix, Arizona for the simple reason that some of the ones from her side of the family live over there. My dad, on the other hand, decided to wait on becoming a law enforcement officer too and just go with one of the highest positions in security.
Even though both of my parents sounded happy about moving, I was not at all pleased about this. I knew that this meant leaving family and friends whom I known since kindergarten behind. I also did not want to leave the beautiful scenery of Virginia, especially after looking up pictures of Arizona that made it seem like there was nothing else to see but plain desert. Another downfall for me was that since schools over there end in May and do not start back up until August, I had to cut my sixth grade year short because of the fact that this move was going to occur sometime in the beginning of June. I tried talking to my mom and dad about these things, but each lecture they gave me ended with a statement like this: "No matter what the case may be, God always has a plan for us."
As someone who grew up in a Christian family, I knew that what they said is the truth. However, at that time, I did not know if I will ever adjust to my new life once I am in Arizona. For the remainder of the time before the move, I thought about the statement over and over again as I was spending the last hours with my friends and other family members before saying goodbye to them. At the day when my family finished packing up and began the long road trip over there, I felt even more horrible because in a couple of days, it would mark the beginning of a fresh new start for us.
When we got to Chandler, Arizona, we spent the first week unpacking and getting things situated. Mom and dad finally started working at their new jobs later on in that week, and I began attending my new middle school by the time the month of August came around. Although I was alone at first, other people started approaching me faster than I thought, making me feel comfortable at that school. To make it even better, one of the first people I met over there happens to be one of my closest friends who I still talk to today. I also liked being around family members that lived over there, especially since I had a lot of aunts, uncles, and cousins who I never knew about at first. Almost every weekend, I could not wait to go visit them in Tucson, Arizona, from all of the fun I usually have over there.
Throughout the years spent over there before moving back to Virginia, my family itself has made some major accomplishments. By going through some intense training at the academy, my dad finally became a law enforcement officer like my mom. From that plus other promotions, my parents were making more money than they have ever been in their lives. From all of the money we had as a whole, we got to move another time, this being in a big house in Maricopa, Arizona. It was not long before my parents found a position in Richmond, Virginia, which made me really happy because I finally get to go back to the place that I love the most.
From my experience leaving my "comfort zone," I finally understood why my parents said, "God has a plan for us." They knew that they had to do this because they felt that it was for the best. My mom and dad wanted for me and the rest of the family to have a life that they never had while growing up. I also learned that no matter where I go, I will always have an opportunity to make new friends and learn more about others.
Even though both of my parents sounded happy about moving, I was not at all pleased about this. I knew that this meant leaving family and friends whom I known since kindergarten behind. I also did not want to leave the beautiful scenery of Virginia, especially after looking up pictures of Arizona that made it seem like there was nothing else to see but plain desert. Another downfall for me was that since schools over there end in May and do not start back up until August, I had to cut my sixth grade year short because of the fact that this move was going to occur sometime in the beginning of June. I tried talking to my mom and dad about these things, but each lecture they gave me ended with a statement like this: "No matter what the case may be, God always has a plan for us."
As someone who grew up in a Christian family, I knew that what they said is the truth. However, at that time, I did not know if I will ever adjust to my new life once I am in Arizona. For the remainder of the time before the move, I thought about the statement over and over again as I was spending the last hours with my friends and other family members before saying goodbye to them. At the day when my family finished packing up and began the long road trip over there, I felt even more horrible because in a couple of days, it would mark the beginning of a fresh new start for us.
When we got to Chandler, Arizona, we spent the first week unpacking and getting things situated. Mom and dad finally started working at their new jobs later on in that week, and I began attending my new middle school by the time the month of August came around. Although I was alone at first, other people started approaching me faster than I thought, making me feel comfortable at that school. To make it even better, one of the first people I met over there happens to be one of my closest friends who I still talk to today. I also liked being around family members that lived over there, especially since I had a lot of aunts, uncles, and cousins who I never knew about at first. Almost every weekend, I could not wait to go visit them in Tucson, Arizona, from all of the fun I usually have over there.
Throughout the years spent over there before moving back to Virginia, my family itself has made some major accomplishments. By going through some intense training at the academy, my dad finally became a law enforcement officer like my mom. From that plus other promotions, my parents were making more money than they have ever been in their lives. From all of the money we had as a whole, we got to move another time, this being in a big house in Maricopa, Arizona. It was not long before my parents found a position in Richmond, Virginia, which made me really happy because I finally get to go back to the place that I love the most.
From my experience leaving my "comfort zone," I finally understood why my parents said, "God has a plan for us." They knew that they had to do this because they felt that it was for the best. My mom and dad wanted for me and the rest of the family to have a life that they never had while growing up. I also learned that no matter where I go, I will always have an opportunity to make new friends and learn more about others.