What it feels like to start over again and again

Adapting to different environments is part of human nature, driven by the need to belong. For some, it’s simple. For others, it takes a while. What matters most is not rushing things, but also not forgetting who you are, and getting to know yourself better and in depth.

For Diana, her experiences of moving to different places while she was growing up have really shaped her character and her perspective on things, even today in her high school years.

Moving to different places from a young age has significantly changed how Diana views everything. As she explains, it has not only taught her how to adapt to different environments, but also how to navigate her identity where she may feel lost. Moreover, Model United Nations (MUN) has allowed her to encounter different opinions and cultures, creating space for further adaptation.

At the same time, the constant need to adapt in her case has not always been easy, she claims. Everyone knows the struggle of making new friends and finding your people in today’s society. The expectations are usually high, and people often feel the need to change themselves to meet these criteria. But let me ask you this: are those friends as real as you have had to become to get them?

Over time though, Diana by meeting different people who were as excited as her to become friends and who showed care made her realise that it was not as overwhelming as it initially seemed, and the right people will eventually come along. She expanded on this by saying, “you should surround yourself with people you love.”

In the beginning, she often felt like an outsider, especially when adjusting to new environments and trying to understand unfamiliar settings. She also reflects on an overlooked factor: the language barrier, which made her feel lost and unheard. In her words, “you feel out of place when you don’t know what others are talking about.” However, as time passed, this feeling left as she formed meaningful connections.

Despite these challenges, her experiences reflect a broader reality for many students who move between countries. While adaptation can be difficult, belonging is often built gradually and through people sharing experiences.