Six Years Ago:
“Welcome to Emirates, turn left to find your seat,” the air hostess said, a sign that my life was about to change drastically. After six months of waiting, I was finally meeting my mom. I couldn’t even begin to describe that excitement I felt during our 21-hour flight to the U.S. from India. The clouds gave way to rain the day I stepped into John F. Kennedy International airport, it felt like a warm welcome from the universe and the start to my life in New Jersey . My 11-year-old brain thought “WOW” as I looked around my new home in Harrison. I thought to myself, “Now all I have to do is adapt, and that shouldn’t be hard right?” On the contrary, it was the most difficult challenge life had thrown at me in my 11 years of living thus far. Everything was different, from the language to the culture. The TV show Flash was my English teacher, and repeating all the show’s dialogue helped me perfect my speaking skills.
Four Years Ago:
Life decided to throw in another challenge: moving to Los Angeles, California. As a freshman, navigating high school in a new country was hard, especially after doing online schooling for two years. The first day of my freshman year was the first in-person schooling that I experienced in the U.S.; it was the time to test my knowledge and my language skills. But oh man, I was lost and had no idea what to do or to say. I didn’t know where my classes were, and I still remember on the first day of high school I didn’t go to my first period because I couldn’t find the class. But Link Crew leaders, especially Kate, were a huge support for me with the transition. With their guidance, I adapted to the place much easier than I expected. Truthfully, if the Link Crew leaders hadn’t shown me how positive high school can be, I wouldn’t have enjoyed the beginning of my freshman year as much.
Last Year:
While I grappled with learning English, I bridged the cultural gap by taking AP United States History (APUSH), volunteering at retirement homes, and talking with my neighbors. I even joined Speech and Debate, which was a true testament to my progress in speaking English. These newfound connections gave me confidence and unexpected friendships.
This Year:
I decided to try out The Arcadia Quill,and it was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my time in high school. Through The Quill I was able to improve my writing skills and also get better at approaching people without hesitation. I can’t believe my high school journey has reached the end.Time flew by so fast, it feels like yesterday I was a freshman figuring out what APs to take and now I’m a senior graduating in three weeks. Arcadia High School (AHS) prepared to take on any challenge that comes my way, and this time I’m not nervous, but excited for the future.
Congratulations class of 2025, WE DID IT!
