When I first got to the United States of America, I was very nervous that I was going to get judged. I always thought that Americans were going to be mean, but now I know, that it was just rumors. But then again, I got a fair share of bullies because of my red hair, But you find rude and mean people everywhere. 

We landed in Los Angeles, California, rented a car, and drove all the way, through 5 states, to get to Minnesota. The road trip was long and boring. My brother and I kept roughhousing over who was going to get the most space in the car. We stopped at hotels to get some rest along the way. But other than that, we drove the whole time and it still took 4 days on the road. We arrived in Minneapolis, Minnesota, bought an actual car, and returned the rented one.

When we arrived in Wanamingo, Minnesota, A kind family let us live in their camper until we got on our feet. We stayed in that camper for a few months and I joined the Kenyon-Wanamingo school system. I was very nervous about joining a new school in a new country, even a continent. But, I sucked it up and told myself You’re going to make so many new friends! And I did. I made so many friends and they liked my accent. Which at first was very weird, because of all the rumors I’d heard about the United States, and that they were all mean. I know now that those rumors were just that, rumors. 

I moved to the Zumbrota-Mazeppa school system for fifth grade and up, because it was closer to my house. In 5th grade, I didn’t have many friends and I just felt invisible. I just lived my life, but then I was like Maybe I’d get popular if I joined volleyball. Well, I was kind of wrong but I did make more friends, so I stayed in volleyball. I’ve played volleyball ever since then, and I’ve had more friends, so I continued to play volleyball. In the time that I have been living in the United States, I’ve had so many different friends. But I kept getting told to go back to the country where I came from that my red hair was ugly and that I was “soulless”, or that I needed to lose weight or get my teeth straightened. And it hurt me when they said those things. 

I started to hate the life I was living, But then I left the school in eighth grade because I just couldn’t take all that bullying that had happened for four years. I went online for a couple of months and then summer break hit. I used this time and joined softball in Red Wing, Minnesota. I had so much fun. The coaches took my insecurity about my red hair and used that as a good thing. They shouted and screamed “LET’S GO, RED!!” whenever I had a good hit and made it home. That summer had ended way too fast, but it ended well. Our team only had lost 2 games our whole summer season. All I could remember was That summer was the best ever! I had also joined my local church and my youth leader had made it so fun to be there. 

 I then enrolled in the Cannon Falls School system in ninth grade. I made so many friends, and I feel at home here. Sure there are still mean people, but you get those everywhere. I love my life and I love all the friends I’m making. I’m pretty sure they all think I’m funny and nice. And I just love everything about my life. I appreciate all the good things that have happened to me, and I’m grateful for all the bad stuff because when I fell, I fell apart. And when I rose, I rose slowly. Without my past, I could’ve never arrived… Here.