Being a new student was scary enough. Being a new student in a different country is a whole other level. When I learned we were moving to Canada, I was ecstatic and scared at the same time. But once the plane landed in Toronto, all the fear bottled up inside was washed away. We have been there a few times so the idea of living in Canada was not much of a big deal. My mom wanted me to experience the Canadian education. Since school was still on-going, she decided to enroll me in a Catholic public school nearby. On the first day of school after enrollment, my cousin gave me a tour and introduced me to some of her friends. I thought the day would go smoothly for me.
Unfortunately, I had a horrible experience of going to class myself. Although some of my classmates were nice, I still felt like an outsider, which is pretty normal when you're new. Outside of class is where the real terror awaits. To these students, the day is just another ordinary routine. But for me, it was a new experience. I was overwhelmed from what I've observed. The school caters to a huge population of students, which for one I'm not used to. People bustling towards their classrooms expertly without even a sweat. Some having a towering physique while others, like me, blessed with a petite structure. Some have dyed hair or multiple piercings. Different cultural groups mingle to each other: Chinese, Koreans, Filipinos, Europeans, Middle Easterns, and so much more. Most of the time you get to have different sets of classmates depending on your subjects. Lastly, the students here seemed more liberal. More carefree, more expressive. This was merely just an ordinary high school. This was like college. I was culture shocked at what I witnessed. With the school system I'm used to being a complete contrast to the school system in Canada, it gave me the benefit of doubt on easily coping in Canada. It only went for three days but for me it felt like eternity. Since this was just a dry-run test, I didn't want to finish the remaining school year. Besides, I was technically on vacation. From that day on, I dreaded of going to school for a moment. As the months slowly but surely passed by, I knew I have to do the same charade again.
My parents decided to enroll us in a private school so my siblings and I can be together. Their population is small compared to the school I attended so it was much more comfortable for me. I was a nervous wreck. I wasn't a social person to begin with so laying low was the only option for me. Not so effective though when there are few students. They easily recognized I'm new in their class. Kelly, a Korean girl, welcomed me there during our first class. All of us get to have the same classes together with the exception of two subjects and grades 11 and 12. She guided me through the day and introduced me to her friends. During lunch, I realized Kelly and her group knew the phase of what I'm undergoing. They understood my difficulty as a new student and it became their duty to make me feel at home. As the year goes on, I realized facing the unknown can give you benefits of experience. The goal of trying something new is to not have regrets but to build memories and develop your perspective and intellectual understanding.
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