What I Learned When Moving Essay

Living in one place for most of your life can have an affect on you. I spent the first fourteen years of my life going to the same school and living in the same city. It was pleasant knowing that you had someone you could talk to. The thing is, you can only do the same old thing for so long. Halfway through my eighth grade year, my mother gave me the news that we were going to be moving. She told me, “It’s not a far move, simply just to the next city over.” At first I attempted to come up with advantages to moving and tried to balance it out with the fact that I would be letting a lot go, but I would usually always find myself being disappointed when I let my attachment to my childhood friends and environment get the best of me. Thinking about moving, would only make it harder. Although it was tough, we made the move and everything changed. From this move, I acquired, what I believe, are essential traits that helped me become a more mature individual. The move expanded my perspective,helped me learn about values, and showed me the importance of self discipline. Once the move was made, I slowly started seeing what
I was once so oblivious to. I realized that my mother wasn’t so glad about the people I hung out with and the attitude I was starting to develope. I noticed the financial struggles my mom would have to through, in order for my sister and I to live the life we did. It was then, that I knew that I had to start taking care of my sister more and helping out around the house when I had the chance. I realized that in simply cleaning up around the house and cleaning the dishes, it was a big help. I acknowledged that showing my appreciation more often, was the least I could do for someone who worked so hard and was still able to raise me and my sister all on her own. In doing so, I had a lot of time to think which helped me understand how the friends I had and the way I saw things, was holding me back. Staying in the same place would prevent me from mentally growing out of my own comfort zone and wanting to better myself and accomplishing more.
In the switch, I learned about values. I slowly started getting tired of being late to school everyday; and I knew I had to change the way I would manage my time. I knew homework was part of the problem, so I started finding other times to do them. I noticed I had time on the bus rides home, so I figured I could do any homework I knew I could get done without too many issues. I could also use that time to start any reading assignments issued at home. Before, I didn’t usually try to find ways to get extra work done. I would walk home from school within, 10 minutes, and I would put it off until later that night. This eventually lead to helping me prioritize school. I started valuing school for what it was. I finally saw school as a privilege that I could take advantage of, rather than some place I was being forced to go to. I learned that self discipline is the key to getting what you want, done.
When you are self disciplined half of your problems will either disappear, or become even easier than before. Discipline helped me achieve the goals I wanted and was important when it came to thinking for myself and making better judgments. When I was at home, debating on whether to do my projects now or later, discipline was the contributing factor in making the right choices like starting my projects, earlier, rather than later. In the past, I was a “live-in-the now” kind of person, and I would often think short term, rather than long term. That changed once we moved and I became disciplined. Discipline was the reason for taking bigger risks like raising my hand in class when I had a question, and in other instances like staying in class longer in order to get assignments
done. Now, every time I reflect on the move, I can use the growth of my perspective, my realization of values, and guidance of discipline, to outweigh with everything I “let go.” After all, it wasn’t so much a loss, but more of a sacrifice. I had to give up something that meant everything in order to become the developed individual I am today.