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The Reality of Moving Schools

By: Junior Leslie Garcia-Meraz

It was mid-spring towards the end of my eighth-grade year. I went on a trip to visit my dad, who worked out of town and had pretty much ever since I can remember. If you're wondering how this relates to moving schools, this was the beginning of my story.

I would move schools without even knowing myself- not sure if I would never return. My mom ended up having to go to the hospital for heart palpitations and was hospitalized for about a week before she was released.

 I never went back to my old school and had to enroll in a brand new facility with only a couple of weeks left to finish the school year. You can imagine the dreadful feeling that comes with making friends so close to the end of the year. I was devastated in pretty much every way you could imagine. I had zero motivation to even wake up for school. 

What have I learned from this? Unexpected things happen when you least expect it. Thankfully my mom is okay. After I finished my eighth-grade year, I began high school in an environment I was not used to and saw unfamiliar faces everywhere. The reality is I never really adapted or maybe I didn't give myself enough time to adjust. 

My mental health was taking a toll. I was expected to make friends and keep my grades up like always. No one really asked or made sure if I was okay--at least not in the genuine sense. Relocation depression exists and is very much real. 

 This is in no way shape or form an article about shaming parents for doing what is necessary for their families. I chose this subject to write about simply to shed some light on the topics that aren't really discussed today. 

We all have major life-changing events occuring but it is up to us to cope with them in healthy ways. 

Studies show that there is a correspondence between moving and depression in children. Moving doesn’t necessarily affect every child this way but it is very common. The association between depression and a life-changing event demands awareness.

 Staying in the same school district is the best case scenerio for children. A sense of security comes with having a stable routine. Uncertainty can lead to issues later on in adulthood. In some cases however, changing schools allows people to flourish so there are two sides to the coin---which side you’re dealt with varies from person to person.