Student's Choice

In 2011, my family left Cameroon and moved to the United States. I was excited about this new opportunity but I didn’t understand what it entailed. Coming to a new country was a challenge in itself. However, not speaking the language brought a certain level of complexity that I had not expected. I had always considered myself a fast learner until I was hit with the reality of truly adapting to my new environment. I had to learn a new culture altogether, a new language and make new friends. I started to experience feelings that I never had before. Depression creeped into my life without me noticing it. It started to be easy to count my troubles rather than my blessings until I changed perspective.  During my first year of school, I learned that failure is inevitable and I cannot get things right every time. A more compassionate attitude towards myself helped me to stay focus. I realized that life is a process of trying, succeeding, failing, and trying again. Being humble and recognizing myself as a limited creature that will always need the help and support of others has and will always keep me grounded.

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