By Alex Nicoll

Staff Writer

As I looked around my barren room with just the last few boxes gracing the floor, I started to reflect on my memories of my time living in Guntersville, Ala.

I remembered the time my friends Thomas, Andy and I attempted to try out for track in seventh grade. I lasted the whole season but was not the fastest by any stretch of the imagination. Andy lasted all of three weeks and Thomas quit after two days.

I remembered the outfit my first homecoming date wore. She wore black jeans with a blue blouse (not what we are accustomed to in Coppell I know, but it was middle school so cut us some slack). I have to tell you she looked good that night.

While I reminisced about my fondest times like ones just mentioned, the bad ones crept into my mind.

I remembered how the first week of fifth grade, I just wanted to run all the way back to Montgomery because I could not seem to make a friend. I remembered how my best friend cried when I told him I was leaving and how there was nothing I could do to console him. There was no “haha gotcha” moment: just an unspoken sadness shared by all affected by this move.

The thing is, this had almost (and is now) become a routine for me. Six moves later, I have become an expert on moving homes at the young age of 17.

In fact, I am pretty sure I was one of the only kids that knew how to assemble a cardboard box the proper way. The trick with that is to use three strips of tape not two on the bottom. I promise you that I can pack up a car faster and more efficiently than anybody here.

My dad was the reason we moved so many times. If you excel at what you do in retail the bosses notice and when the bosses notice they relocate you so that you can replicate that same success in another franchise in another city or even state.

Each time you move, there will always be those feelings of sadness associated with leaving. I mean you are leaving your home of “insert number here” years. It is only natural and healthy to feel that way.

People only see the negative sides of moves. You know the Hollywood style moves where a family pulls up to their new house with their teenage kid in the backseat with his arm propped up on the window sill and a glare in his eye.

While this is a valid point, society does not take into account the good that can come out of changing locations. You learn to appreciate little things about your former life and you anticipate the fun times ahead. It got to the point where I actually liked to move; we would be in our fourth year in a place and I would be, “alright so where to next”.

Each place offers its own unique adventures. I went from living in the suburbs, to living in the backwood country and then to living in a city, and as you could probably guess they were not the same at all.

Moving has made me more accepting of different people, it has opened my mind up to new cultures, it has forced me to grow up and now I am a better person for it.

I have an advantage over most kids my age. When I go off to college, I will be ready for the changes ahead. Having to make friends, learning to be on your own and assimilating to the new culture will all be easy for me. It should be for others too.

Moving is a great experience and leaving home is a necessary journey. Embrace change do not try to fight it or it will make your life miserable. I know I am better off because of  it.