Stress, chaos, and discord are words one usually associates with moving. The whole process of packing and moving from point A to point B can be quite overwhelming. There are multiple things and people you have to keep up with. You might be moving to a completely new environment, not to mention what you’re leaving behind.

As a military brat who has moved many times, I speak from experience when I say moving certainly has its ups and downs. I spent most of my life moving every two years for a new assignment in a different state, country or even continent.

Sometimes, moving was a real hassle. By the time I had become accustomed to a new place, liked my school, had my new room set up the way I wanted, was involved in clubs and sports, and made friends, it was time to pack up and move across the world once again. It wasn’t your average lifestyle, but I had done it so many times, I was used to it. How could I not be? It was what I had done for majority of my life.

Now with the school year coming to an end, some Reagan seniors are going to experience the trials and tribulations that come with the shift as many are moving to attend college. They may be moving to a new state or going abroad to study, and it could be the first time they are leaving home.

Adjusting to new surroundings is a big part of making a move successful. Accepting that the move is necessary is the first step. However, that doesn’t mean it’s easy. For example, sometimes the school on a different curriculum than I was used to, the environment was a total shift, or I wasn’t happy with where the new assignment was. Most of the time I just had to accept that this is the way I have to live, and there was nothing I could do but make the best out of it.

“Adapting to any new place is all about your effort and attitude,” said Tom Aldhizer, a senior who will be moving to attend the United States Military Academy West Point, in New York. “Leaving Pfafftown is not something that I will enjoy, but something I will have to do.”

Unless you have lived long term in many different places and moved multiple times, you may only know one part of the country. Moving can mean leaving behind the people you love and place that you call home, which is never easy.

After moving so many times, you still never become immune to the pain that comes with saying goodbye. For me, that was the hardest part: leaving the people you have gotten so close with even if you only knew them for a short amount of time. However, the experiences you gain from the change could make up for it.

Moving provides opportunities for new understanding of the world we live in. At first getting exposed to an unfamiliar place can be frightening, especially if it’s a long way from home. Nonetheless, when you get over that initial fear, getting that exposure to new surroundings and cultures is perhaps one of the best and most important experiences that you may get.

I’ve lived in many places as a result of being a military child. So I’ve gotten to experience so many cultures around the word. The place that always stuck out to me is Japan. Moving to Japan was such a culture shock; it was like a brand new world. Walking the crowded streets of Tokyo, visiting temples and shrines, and eating genuine Japanese food are some experiences that I wouldn’t trade for anything else.

Since I spent most of my childhood traveling, I grew up getting to have the amazing, once in a lifetime, experiences that most people don’t have the opportunity to have. If I could change anything about having to move so many times, I would change how old I was. Being so young, I didn’t get to appreciate these experiences to their full extent.

After the hassle and stress that accompanies moving is over, you get to relax, meet new people, try new things, and enjoy the new setting. Getting to explore the world is something that shouldn’t be taken for granted, even if you’re just moving to the next state over.