It was going to happen no matter what. It had been lingering in my family’s thoughts for a long while and made us contemplate every emotion we had. It was the fact that my dad would soon be losing his job in a major corporation. He had given years on end of loyal, passionate, and hard working labor, and what he got in return was a notice to clear his office because he was no longer needed in the company. When the event happened, my family realized that we would inevitably be moving, whether it be sooner or later, and to where was another question. We had to make an adjustment and take everything into consideration. Change was coming and we had to be ready as a family.

My family is made up of my father, mother, and sister. All of us reacted differently to the thought of moving. My father had to come to the grueling reality that he was not needed anymore in the position he was in. He would now have to move on from what he called a steady job and home in Arkansas for 10 years. He had been with the company for 19 years, so he knew nothing different. In preparation for getting a new job, he shaved his mustache and got new glasses. This was all to make himself look younger for new job interviews he would receive. He had many leads and some, but not all led to interviews. It was a disappointing six months until he finally found a job in Suwanee, Georgia which led to our move, and the rest of the family’s reaction.

My sister who was in her senior year of high school at the time wasn’t really prepared to move. She had 10 years of friendships and learning behind her. She was accustomed to the ways of Conway, Arkansas and wasn’t ready for a change. She never had done well in school and the transition from high school to college wasn’t going to be easy especially with the move on her mind. She took all year to live out her life in Conway, spending numerous days on end with her friends. She took the move as a new beginning and a chance to start all over. This was very similar to what my mom thought.

My mom has had problems with depression since she was in her early thirties. A move wasn’t going to help, just increase the burden she was already living with. My dad and mom had decided to leave for Georgia in early June when school was over. My dad on the other hand had priorities to start work in March. This was a difficult adjustment. This situation was the biggest problem for my mother. She was left with working, living with two teenagers, and still getting everything ready for our move. She was sad about the move since she too had enjoyed her 10 years in Arkansas, but moving was a chance for her to be closer to her family who are located in North Carolina. She was happy for this because she would then get to spend more and more time with them, which is what she always wanted. These feelings weren’t even close to being parallel with the thoughts that invaded my brain a hundred miles a minute.

I was at the ripe age of 13 when you start to think and act differently in school and friendships. I knew I was going to be moving so I looked at the whole year as a maturing opportunity and as a way to end all my friendships with good lasting memories. The year rushed by me, while I was juggling sports, friends, and girls. As I look back, it all appears to be a big blur. Surpassingly nothing sticks out to me about the move except that last day. My emotions where the same the whole time during the preparation for the move. I was depressed and didn’t want to leave but I knew I had to. The last day was the hardest. The weeks and months before had gone by so fast I hadn’t thought of what moving actually was. I wasn’t emotional till the day I pulled out of my best friend’s driveway (Trey). It all hit me like a brick as the tears flew down my face and I waved goodbye to my girlfriend and best friends. About an hour down the road I realized that it wasn’t the end of the world. I was then looking forward to a new beginning. It was like a new chance in life to start over. I could make new friends and leave all my bad memories, and I did just that.

When I moved I was depressed but it all worked out. I quickly made two best friends, Nate and Scott who are now very close to me and help me out with a lot of things. I have done all right with the girls which is a usual part of all boy’s lives, and soccer is doing just fine since I moved. If you move you must look at it as a learning opportunity. Take it all in stride and realize that there is always a good in every bad. If you are a patient person then it will all work itself out. Moving is a way to move on in your life and have a second chance. I made the best of it.

Billy Sayers, was born in Augusta, Georgia and now lives in Suwanee, Georgia. He is a student at North Gwinnett High School.