Growing up you are led to believe that you will always be friends with the kids in your neighborhood or the kids in your classes. That is exactly what I thought all the way until sixth grade, but then, everything changed. I was told that I would have to leave all of my lifelong friends and move across the country. This was very hard for me as a child, what was I going to do without my friends? What if I can't make friends at my new school? These were all the scary thoughts going through my mind at the time. It came time to say goodbye to all of the people I had known since I was five years old, to this day this is was probably one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. With tears in my eyes, I said goodbye to my childhood home and town and got on a plane to California from Illinois.

The first day at my new school was very intimidating, I was very shy so I didn't have any friends for the first month or two of school. I eventually made friends and eventually graduated middle school and was off to high school. High school was an amazing experience for me because I had a great friend group, I don't know what I would have done without them. Eventually, my junior year of high school came around and I was told I would be moving back to Illinois. This was a bittersweet moment for me, I was unsure how I felt about the whole situation. I had started a new life for myself in California and lost connection with basically everyone from Illinois.

I had to say goodbye to all of the friends I had made in California and move back to my hometown in Illinois. When I came back, everything was so different. I barely recognized people and people didn't recognize me. I eventually got back into the swing of things and met a group of amazing girls. I now attend college in the state I grew up in and I couldn't be happier.

Moving twice in my life may seem like nothing to some people, but it is still a difficult experience to go through. Although it was difficult, I wouldn't change it for the world. Through this experience, I have learned so much about myself and got the chance to meet some amazing people I will never forget.

If you have moved states or will be moving eventually, just know that it will be okay. You will have an experience of a lifetime.