Restart

As the trucks pulled into my driveway, I felt my old life slipping away. How could my parents betray me by making me leave my hometown? Making me leave all my friends behind? I didn’t want to restart my life. The tears flooded into my eyes as I thought about all the memories I left behind. How could I pack up my whole life just in one truck? I took in my surroundings, looking around at the places and people I wouldn’t be seeing every day. I said one last goodbye to my school and teachers. The dreadful 30 minute car drive felt like forever, and finally, there it was. My new house. My new town. My new life. This was my restart. 

“Beep beep beep” The sound of my alarm ringing through my ears, forcing me to get out of bed. The first day at my new school couldn’t have come sooner. In the car on the way to school, I took a look around to see how this town compares to where I was before. As I arrived at school I felt my heart pounding when I entered the building, a million thoughts raced through my mind. I looked around at everyone, hoping I could fit in. I joined everyone on the gym floor, awkward as ever but hoping to make conversation with someone. Everyone’s voices filled the gym as they talked. Awkwardly sitting, I felt something touching my backpack. I turned over and I saw a brunette girl with big eyes flipping the sequins on my backpack. “I like your backpack, It’s really cool.” She said to me with the biggest smile on her face. 

“Oh, thank you so much!” I nervously replied, not knowing what to say. 

“I’m Mia, what’s your name?” Little did I know that was the start of one of my most cherished friendships. 

The years passed by and I grew more comfortable with myself and others around me. I made friends with my neighbors, which reminded me of the times back in my old town, always hanging around my friends. Mia, still one of my closest friends, was always over my house, and If not that, I was always over hers. I overcame my fear of restarting a new life in this town, but now I am so glad I did, and I think I needed a refresh. No matter how many years could pass by, I would never forget my old town along with its people. I can move houses but never move on from the friendships I made. Visiting my friends almost every weekend, I reminisce about the nostalgia of my old life.

As I now enter high school, it’s been 8 years since I moved. 8 years ago I was a scared little girl terrified of leaving her friends and her hometown behind. Now, I’m thriving and happier than ever. I love the town I moved to as well as the people. I always thought that moving here would ruin my life, I was so annoyed at my parents for making me leave. Now, I wish I could tell my past young self how happy I am now. I wish I could tell her that it all turned out better than I would’ve ever imagined. 

Change isn’t always a bad thing. Change is good for you, and while it is hard to adapt to those changes, that's how you grow as a person. The challenges in your life are what build your character, and taking risks every now and then isn’t as hard as you think. I entered this town dreading the thought of ever being here, what I once thought to be a curse ended up being a blessing. A restart isn’t always a bad thing.