At the ripe age of 13, I moved to Switzerland and had to adapt to a completely different culture. I didn’t know the language, the location, or the customs; I was a fish out of water. Suddenly, simple things like ordering food or taking notes became significantly harder. Over time, I started to adjust, picking up the language little by little and learning how things worked, but it definitely wasn’t easy
A few years later, I moved back to the U.S., which was yet another drastic change in my life. I once again knew nobody and was out of the loop. Coming back was almost as weird as leaving, everything was familiar yet foreign simultaneously. I had to reform my routines and reconnect with a culture that I hadn’t lived in for years.
With both of these experiences under my belt, I’d like to give my tips to anyone who is new to the U.S. or high school in general.
Tip 1: Ask for Help
At AAPS, and at Skyline specifically, there are so many people who are willing to help you if you just ask for it. It can be intimidating to reach out to someone if you don’t know the people or the language, whether that be to your teachers, counselors, or classmates. But what you’ll gain from doing so will go a long way.
It can be extremely confusing coming into a totally new environment, you’re not going to know how certain things work, and that’s ok. Maybe a class topic doesn’t make sense, or you’re unsure where something is, but asking for clarification is an invaluable skill. You’ll not only understand more, but you might even make a friend or two by doing so. People also often appreciate being asked for help, it shows you’re trying, and the effort goes a long way.
Tip 2: Join Clubs
Skyline has so many amazing clubs and activities to choose from. Even if you join just to kill time, you’ll almost surely find something that matches one of your interests or sparks a new one. I honestly wish that I could join more clubs, with how many cool and interesting ones we have here.
It can definitely be a bit intimidating joining a sphere where everyone already seems to know each other, or you don’t know what you’re doing. But going past that moment of discomfort is totally worth it. I’ve made some of my closest friends and had some of my most fun experiences participating in both theatre and robotics, so if anything at all seems interesting to you, give it a shot.
Tip 3: Be Patient with Yourself
Adjusting to a new environment takes a good deal of time, and it’s ok not to have everything figured out right away. You’ll make mistakes, feel lost, and get frustrated sometimes, but that’s all part of the process. Every time you go out of your comfort zone and try new things, it helps you learn and grow, even if it may not feel like it at the moment.
It’s easy to get yourself down when you don’t understand something, but you need to give credit to yourself for how far you’ve come. Every day that you show up and try again, you’re making progress. With time, things that at one time felt foreign will start to feel familiar, and you’ll realize just how
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