Kevin, holding his cold blanket on top of his pajama, is staring far beyond the sky. From the luminous stars, he makes a wish, trying to escape from studying abroad.

The day his parents told him about moving to America, he got depressed. Kevin, a Chinese boy that does not want to leave his home, his family, and his friends behind, got depressed by this terrifying news. The black shadows covered his smile while tears streamed from his eyes. He thought about arguing back. But he chose to not say anything. Mrs. Yuan came out from her bedroom, sat down on his bed, explaining to him the reason for moving.

“Here, son. I know it will be hard for you. But the thing is, America has a good education, we all know that. We think it is best for you to study there.”

Her eyes got red and she almost cried. Kevin said nothing, except nodding his head over and over again. He didn’t want to look at his mother.

Like his parents said, studying abroad has a lot of advantages for him. But he is cautious about learning new cultures, making new friends, and fitting in the new environment. He hates speaking a language that seemed so unfamiliar to Chinese, he hates going to an environment where it seemed so strange to him. The day he moved to America, he packed his bag and carried everything with him, going to the airport with a wide and fake smile.

On the plane, he looks out, thinking about whether his choice is genuine or not. However, he does not notice that this flight would change his life forever. He discovers that he must step out of his comfort zone, fitting in a new place, because it shaped him who he is. Landing down, breath in the fresh and new air, and started a brand new life.

<Sophia Ma Sage Hill School 9th Grade>