Who am I?
You know how unprepared you are when you stub your toe? That's the amount of preparation I had to move to a new school. I'm entering a new school for my DP years in the full IB, so basically, I stubbed both my small toes; I wasn't ready to talk to anyone new either so I stubbed both my small toes twice without socks in my transition here. I can enjoy just about anything but it's hard to actually do said "anything" when you have trouble socializing with newer people.
I'm Outh,
On the topic of socialization, a big part of that is the language people speak, which is always a really cool concept when you realize that a school like Raha has people from all over the world, and yet all of them are able to talk to each other with a common language. Even without speaking you can pass on a message but being able to speak in English within a community that also acknowledges that language is an amazing thing and helps overcome a lot of social boundaries. Personally, I have a group of Korean friends that i enjoy being with, but also can't help but feel awkward as if I'm limiting how they speak since I can't understand their first language, and when they do speak in Korean, it's easy to feel left out because all of a sudden you have no clue what's going on.
What does Outh strive for?
My goals are mainly to be able to not only do my best and show it through results, but to become a better student in general. I'm too quiet to speak to people or be heard well in my classes. This being both a new school and new year, I need to make a different path for myself. I want to try showing more confidence throughout the next two years and working on being louder. I'm sort of hoping I can improve that through classes and participation in general to get used to publicly speaking. Throughout the next two years I'll be sure to grow as much as I can
Your introduction was really well written! I think that it's great that you are able to acknowledge your troubles and that you are able to find a solution to it and are working towards it. Have you been a new student often, in various schools or countries? "You know how unprepared you are when you stub your toe? That's the amount of preparation I had to move to a new school." This line really stood out to me as that relates to how I feel before I move schools (currently my fifth school), and I completely agree with that. It is a nerve-wracking experience.
ReplyDeleteImma let it be said, I haven't been a new student often, but I also wouldn't say being new is a stranger! Ironically, being new, isn't so new!
DeleteI liked how you compared starting a new school with complete strangers to the act of stubbing your toe. I thought this was very creative and thoughtful. You said "you have trouble socialising with newer people". I understand what it's like to be the new kid although it does get easier. I would recommend joining a sports club or any type of club because it makes meeting new people so much easier.
ReplyDeleteSeeing that I haven't been a new kid for a while, it's interesting to see someone's true thoughts on such an experience especially when comparing it to something I can definitely relate to (stubbing my toe). Is the Emirati culture something new to you as well or is it just attending an IB school?
ReplyDeleteEveryone stubs their toes sadly, it truly is a violent world out there... I'm so much new to the country as I am to the IB system, but I'm doing my best to keep up regardless
DeleteThis introductory post was very enjoyable to read. The analogy that you crafted as your hook was effective and humorous. Moving forward, try to use your blog as a space to develop your writing skills. Although your post is well written, it could have been more detailed. Bonus points for already responding to comments!
ReplyDeleteBeing unprepared in a new environment might feel you are stubbing your toe but if you allow yourself to fit in it could be like putting on socks during the winter; the comfort and warmth of community and friendship. Everyone that has moved to the UAE finds it challenging at first but people here are generally like a warm sock that offers you a sense of community and friendship if you are willing to accept it.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you that when moving to a new and foreign country will often result in a ‘stubbing your toe feeling’!
What do you like about the UAE, Raha and your new home? What do you dislike about coming to the UAE?
“You know how unprepared you are when you stub your toe?” Excellent metaphor and super humorous! I love the confidence you have to use a magnificent question and metaphor as an opening line. Not very formal, but a good way for you to establish what kind of person you are.