Change is something we all go through one way or another. Depending on where we are in life, we can see the word “change” as something drastic or very mild and manageable. Our ages and perspectives on life can also impact how significant a change can be based on external factors. For me, I feel change is something that we shouldn’t take for granted. I went through so many changes throughout my life that affected my well-being and how I see things. Ever since childhood, I had to go through drastic changes where I had no control over the outcome. However, I have learned that change can be a good thing, depending on how you look at it. Sometimes when a change occurs, we don’t think about the long-term effects and the lessons we can learn.
I was born in Lanxi, Zhejiang, China, on February 20th, 2001, where I lived in an orphanage at the Lanxi Welfare Institute by Xiaochen Town’s government on May 16th, 2001. Then, on August 8th, 2002, I was adopted by a single mother who adopted my two older sisters as well. At the time, I was still really young, so I wasn’t aware of what was happening. But when I think about it long-term, knowing where I originally lived and that I was adopted to a heartwarming family makes me feel thankful and appreciative of where I am now. Growing up, I didn’t think about it too often, considering that I was just a kid growing up. However, on December 10th, 2005, the mother who adopted me passed away from cancer when I was four years old. I did not know her for that long, but I knew she was a compassionate woman who loved us dearly. After her passing, my aunt took care of me, my two older sisters, and our cousin (our aunt’s son). My aunt was a charming woman and had given us a wonderful childhood.
Then, when I was 18, life got complicated, and I experienced a massive change in my life. On June 4th, 2019, my aunt passed away from septic shock at the age of 62. After her passing, life wasn’t easy, and I had to take on many responsibilities at a young age. I had my friends and family helping along the way, I had my older sisters for support, and had my cousin from Georgia who helped me, but I had to live on my own for the most part. I remember I was overwhelmed with the responsibilities and had a lot of trouble keeping up with everything. There were many times where I did not want to ask for help because I did not want people to feel bad for me and didn’t want to be a burden to others. I felt very depressed and put a lot of pressure on myself, thinking I need to act perfectly around people to show how strong I am.
I was in a terrible state during my senior year, but I was starting to feel better in the middle of the year. That is when I really turned to the Catholic Faith and knew that I had God guiding me through those difficult times. Once I started to feel better, the COVID-19 pandemic began. I know I’ve mentioned this in a past blog, but the overall effect brought my mood down drastically. While spending my last three months in quarantine, the depression had sunk in and it was easy to feel lonely during these difficult times. After three months of quarantine, everything seemed to get better. I wasn’t able to have a “proper” graduation but still had an opportunity to see some of my friends and family during the summer. I was getting back to the old habits I used to do and didn’t need to worry about school until August.
However, one thing that has been stressing me out was when we were in the process of moving. During the summer after my graduation, my family and I decided to sell our house, and move to an apartment that’s 40 minutes away. Sadly, we were giving up our family home, but at the time, I hadn't had a chance to think about that. My summer got very hectic with working at the grocery store, moving, and hanging out with my friends before going to college. Eventually, I was able to get through it before I left for school, but the main point I am making is knowing I transitioned from living in a house to an apartment. This transition was very stressful during the process, but it is also stressful knowing I don’t live in the same area. The apartment we live in now is about 40 minutes away from our hometown, making it quite inconvenient when I hang out with friends at home. Of course, during the school year, I am mainly living on campus at Misericordia, but at the same time, whenever I am home, it feels very different to getting used to living in the apartment. I do live with my sisters and my cousin (my aunt’s son), which is nice, but at the same time, it still is very different compared to what I am used to, and I am still working my mind around it.
Another significant change is when I transitioned to college. As you may know, I go to Misericordia University. Considering that I transitioned from New Jersey, moving to Pennsylvania was another drastic change that I am still getting used to. I was so used to living in a community that everyone is always in a rush, and many people would speed along the streets of New Jersey. Moving to Pennsylvania is different, and people are very calm compared to New Jersey. Not only that, just the chance of meeting new people has been something that seemed very different, but at the same time, it’s great having these experiences to meet new people.
The main point I am trying to make is that I’ve gone through many big changes in my life, which have affected how I look at things. Being as it may, I’ve also realized that even if we go through changes that seem challenging at first, it doesn’t mean they don’t make a good outcome in the long run. Going through changes can make you stronger and teach you how to understand other people’s difficulties based on your own experiences. Change can be scary, but as long as you look at the positive side to it, everything will get better.
I was born in Lanxi, Zhejiang, China, on February 20th, 2001, where I lived in an orphanage at the Lanxi Welfare Institute by Xiaochen Town’s government on May 16th, 2001. Then, on August 8th, 2002, I was adopted by a single mother who adopted my two older sisters as well. At the time, I was still really young, so I wasn’t aware of what was happening. But when I think about it long-term, knowing where I originally lived and that I was adopted to a heartwarming family makes me feel thankful and appreciative of where I am now. Growing up, I didn’t think about it too often, considering that I was just a kid growing up. However, on December 10th, 2005, the mother who adopted me passed away from cancer when I was four years old. I did not know her for that long, but I knew she was a compassionate woman who loved us dearly. After her passing, my aunt took care of me, my two older sisters, and our cousin (our aunt’s son). My aunt was a charming woman and had given us a wonderful childhood.
Then, when I was 18, life got complicated, and I experienced a massive change in my life. On June 4th, 2019, my aunt passed away from septic shock at the age of 62. After her passing, life wasn’t easy, and I had to take on many responsibilities at a young age. I had my friends and family helping along the way, I had my older sisters for support, and had my cousin from Georgia who helped me, but I had to live on my own for the most part. I remember I was overwhelmed with the responsibilities and had a lot of trouble keeping up with everything. There were many times where I did not want to ask for help because I did not want people to feel bad for me and didn’t want to be a burden to others. I felt very depressed and put a lot of pressure on myself, thinking I need to act perfectly around people to show how strong I am.
I was in a terrible state during my senior year, but I was starting to feel better in the middle of the year. That is when I really turned to the Catholic Faith and knew that I had God guiding me through those difficult times. Once I started to feel better, the COVID-19 pandemic began. I know I’ve mentioned this in a past blog, but the overall effect brought my mood down drastically. While spending my last three months in quarantine, the depression had sunk in and it was easy to feel lonely during these difficult times. After three months of quarantine, everything seemed to get better. I wasn’t able to have a “proper” graduation but still had an opportunity to see some of my friends and family during the summer. I was getting back to the old habits I used to do and didn’t need to worry about school until August.
However, one thing that has been stressing me out was when we were in the process of moving. During the summer after my graduation, my family and I decided to sell our house, and move to an apartment that’s 40 minutes away. Sadly, we were giving up our family home, but at the time, I hadn't had a chance to think about that. My summer got very hectic with working at the grocery store, moving, and hanging out with my friends before going to college. Eventually, I was able to get through it before I left for school, but the main point I am making is knowing I transitioned from living in a house to an apartment. This transition was very stressful during the process, but it is also stressful knowing I don’t live in the same area. The apartment we live in now is about 40 minutes away from our hometown, making it quite inconvenient when I hang out with friends at home. Of course, during the school year, I am mainly living on campus at Misericordia, but at the same time, whenever I am home, it feels very different to getting used to living in the apartment. I do live with my sisters and my cousin (my aunt’s son), which is nice, but at the same time, it still is very different compared to what I am used to, and I am still working my mind around it.
Another significant change is when I transitioned to college. As you may know, I go to Misericordia University. Considering that I transitioned from New Jersey, moving to Pennsylvania was another drastic change that I am still getting used to. I was so used to living in a community that everyone is always in a rush, and many people would speed along the streets of New Jersey. Moving to Pennsylvania is different, and people are very calm compared to New Jersey. Not only that, just the chance of meeting new people has been something that seemed very different, but at the same time, it’s great having these experiences to meet new people.
The main point I am trying to make is that I’ve gone through many big changes in my life, which have affected how I look at things. Being as it may, I’ve also realized that even if we go through changes that seem challenging at first, it doesn’t mean they don’t make a good outcome in the long run. Going through changes can make you stronger and teach you how to understand other people’s difficulties based on your own experiences. Change can be scary, but as long as you look at the positive side to it, everything will get better.