Below is Shreya’s story on how she navigated through high school in an unstable environment.
Immigrating to the United States as a 12-year-old girl, Shreya has been on the move ever since. Noticing a cultural difference, she tried to adapt to the American culture by keeping up with the trend and watching American shows. Before Shreya got to know her classmates, her family had to move again due to her parent’s job. There were even situations where she had to stay in hotels and AirB&Ns. Her family finally settled in San Francisco. With her constantly changing environment, she struggled to maintain her academics while balancing community involvement.
Coming from a strict household, Shreya was not allowed to hang out after school. Her only time to be friends was during school. Once again she felt as if her social life was cut out. Sharing a MacBook and having no phone, the lack of devices at home put her at a disadvantage for online homework assignments. Despite this Shreya did not let her circumstances stop her as she found different ways to complete the assignments, either by completing them at school or through her mom’s phone.
Joining ROTC was a major change for her. Through ROTC she was able to be more involved in her community while making more friends. Shreya also gained more confidence in herself and found herself striving for a leadership position in ROTC.
Shreya’s word of advice is, “Don't be afraid to make friends, even if you are uncertain about moving, still try to be involved in the community. Join clubs that make you feel welcome and accomplished, a place where you can relax and feel apart of the community”
Shreya is a senior at George Washington High School. Some of her hobbies include hiking, swimming, and reading. Aside from that, she also enjoys watching k-drama; you can expect her to talk about it for hours on end.
Written by Victoria Aye on 3/8/21
Comments