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On August 2006, I crossed the Atlantic Ocean with my family from Egypt to US. I felt

as astonished and eager as a small girl who is always enthralled when she gets a new toy.

Juxtaposing my life in the past and my new life in America, I knew that I would face challenges

in my growth that I thought I would never face.

Settling into a new culture that is unlike the culture of Egypt tested my flexibility, and ability

to adapt to an unusual environment. Being consistent with one lifestyle during my tenth grade

year made it especially challenging to adapt quickly because I had lived one way for an extended

period of time. Moreover, not being flexible in accepting my new life, the new education and the

sense that this place is not for me, made it difficult for me to realize then that it would have been

better for me in the long run to go with the flow of a new life and change to the better by learning

more, accepting the change and have the courage to face challenges.

I found that I was a fish on the shore, trying to get back into the water. Replacing my old

friends with new friends, and learning to speak, read, and write English were daily struggles I

endured because not being around my family, friends and not speaking my first language was a

stress for me which lead me to not accept the reality that I am in. During that time my low grades

reflected on how being inflexible made me gain nothing except a low grade point average. That's

when I started to be firm with myself; I had to accept that I was not living in Egypt , and

I would have to adapt to this new environment to be successful.

I tried to be involved in my new life by getting to know new people and how they