Throughout my life, I have moved eight times, lived in three different countries, and attended eight different schools.
Being the new kid often means I have to step out of my comfort zone and face various emotional and social hurdles, however, these challenges have lead me to have a deeper understanding of myself and I have developed valuable life skills.
When I first moved to Elkhorn North, I had a very welcoming experience. I was a freshman so all my peers were also attending school here for the first time. This made it easier to find a friend group and connect with more people.
While I was fortunate, others might have an initial sense of isolation. It’s not easy being the outsider in a place where everyone else has established friendships and social circles.
My older sister, Julian, had a different experience as my family moved here when she was a junior.
“When I first came to the school, I didn’t feel welcome,” senior Julian Newbauer said. “Everyone here grew up together and established friends groups, which are hard to get in because they are all close-knit groups.”
My sister and I are two different people so while I put myself out there and felt included immediately, she is not as outgoing of a person and sat back more.
Loneliness and the fear of not fitting in are hard, but they can also teach resilience. Learning to navigate social situations and gradually finding a place in a new community can build confidence and adaptability.
For all new students, these skills are crucial, but they can be applied to any new environment a person encounters.
This year, junior Herwin Bernal moved to Elkhorn from Wayne, Neb. As a junior and a baseball player, his experience moving here was similar to mine.
“It’s very boring here, but when I initially came to the school, everyone came up to me and helped me have a social life immediately,” Bernal said.
On the upside, being the new kid can provide a unique opportunity to reinvent oneself or try something new. A new town brings the chance to present oneself in a fresh light and explore different aspects of your personality.
“I met a lot of people through my classes,” Bernal said. “People say I’m a very social person so it’s easy for me to get involved.”
A fresh start can be incredibly freeing and can lead to personal growth as new interests and strengths are discovered. Additionally, the experience of meeting new people and forming new friendships broadens perspective and enhances social skills.
As the “new kid”, I have learned to appreciate diversity and I have become more empathetic towards others. I think this comes more naturally to me as I have been thrown in to new situations frequently.
“It’s normal not to feel welcomed immediately, but I would suggest that any new kids get involved in sports and clubs because, for me, those are my closest friends,” Newbauer said.
For me, I play volleyball, and when I moved here my first friends were from the volleyball team. Getting involved in my school when I move to a new place impacts who I become friends with and who I grow to be like within that school.
These experiences contribute to growth as a person, help prepare for future challenges, to increase the capability to handle life’s uncertainties.
“Fortunately, all the kids I’ve dealt with, that have moved here in the last year are very resilient and I’ve seen them grow into the school and thrive,” counselor Shay Ryan-Wright said.
