<p>Here it is: </p>
<p>Please fasten your seatbelt, the Captain is ready for takeoff, the air hostess announced. As I struggled to fasten my seatbelt, I began thinking about the life I had left behind. What would Shivani, my best friend, be doing right now? Who would take care of my home where I took my first step, spoke my first word, and lived 11 years of my life? Most of all, I was concerned about my family that I was leaving behind. As the plane descended, all my queries dissolved except one: What would my new life in America be like? That rainy day in April 2008 changed my life forever; it was the day my family and I moved from India to America.
Seattle was a completely new environment for me to adapt to. As a new 7th grader in a place there were few Indians, I felt invisible in the classroom. Being a novice in English, I was looked down by other students and was not well received. I sat quietly in the class and tried not to look at anyone; yet, the other students laughed at me. I could still remember the times when the teacher asked, Who doesn't have a partner? and I would be the only one to raise my hand. After going to school for the first week, it became apparent to me that I needed more academic support than my peers, and I had to work harder to accomplish the same things that they did. Although I excelled in my Mathematics classes, English became my weak point. I was quickly admitted into an ESL class with the rest of the non-English speaking students. However, my goal was to move up to regular English. Therefore, my brother and I used to rush home to watch all the Television shows and absorb as much English as we would. As soon as I was done watching T.V., I would go to my room and read books. I still remember the big stack of library books that were always in my room. So with persistence and hard work, I overcame the endeavor, and I was out of ESL classes in 3 months. Since I was still not an expert on the English language, school continued to be challenging for a few more years, but I knew that if I set goals and pursued them, I could accomplish anything.
After a year, as I was just getting comfortable with my new lifestyle in Seattle, we were obligated to move to Edison, New Jersey and then a year later to Liverpool, New York. Each time I moved to a different place, I had to start over like I did when I was in Seattle. I had to make new friends, adapt to the lifestyle, and do well in school. My parents moved to America to give my brother and me a better education and a better life. They sacrificed their family for us to achieve the American dream. Somehow, I found confidence and strength inside me to strive forward. Moving from state to state, I learned to accept challenges with an open mind and be optimistic. The difficulties I faced at a young age shaped me into the person I am today.
My move to the United States and within the country completely changed my life. I overcame the language barrier; I became habituated to the new life and customs. The most important change I developed is my passion for education. I have an opportunity in this country purse my dreams and I will not let this opportunity go. To reach my goal, the next step in my chapter is college. I am the first person in my family to go to college in America and I have to my family in India proud. I know I can succeed in education by bringing my diverse knowledge into an institution. This move to the United States has shaped my life, making me view education as a window to many other opportunities.</p>