When you live somewhere for so long, you create a bond with the place. It’s the story book in which all of our memories come to light. This place becomes part who we are. Moving from one place to another can be very hard, just like it was for me, moving from Georgia to New York. Even though the move was difficult, I’m thankful for some of the aspects that it inflicted on me. I can now face any obstacle that I come upon because the move made me a stronger and tougher person due to dealing with these completely different environments.

Tybee Island, Georgia… my first and forever home. I lived there the first 12 years and it was nothing but extraordinary. We lived right on one of the back creeks that led directly to the ocean. Most mornings you could see families of bottlenose dolphins swim along the murky saltwater off the back dock. When we would go to the beach, the warm salty air would blow through the palm trees and the hot tan sand would almost burn the bottom of your feet. Houses in almost every vibrant color filled the streets. Everywhere you looked you would see people riding bikes and walking around. The pier was probably the busiest place on the island. It was always packed and you would find yourself squeezing through the crowds. At the far end of the pier, fisherman would spend hours standing out there in hopes of reeling in the perfect sized fish to eat for dinner. Everyone knew everyone in our small little community which gave me a sense of belonging and safety. I was happy there.  

One day my mom sat me and my sister down and told us that we were going to move to cold upstate New York. My heart was racing and I could begin to feel the tear drops drip down my freckled face. “No!” I cried. “I don’t want to move I like it here.” But my mom just sat there explaining how this move was going to be beneficial for us all, even if I didn’t believe it at the time.

On the long drive to New York I remember being mesmerized by the sight of the fall colored leaves. I had never seen that before living in Georgia. The vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows caught my eye. My first winter here was brutal however. The cold air suffocated me as soon as I stepped outside. I hated winter. After a few years of living her and getting myself adjusted to the different climates, I learned to love the place. Nothing as much as Tybee, but I was finally able to think of it as my new home.

The move made me a stronger person. It taught me how to deal with new challenges that arrive and learn how to cope with them. I now feel confident in dealing with any new obstacles to get thrown my way because moving was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to go through.