the stressful hardships

By Alysiana P

Sometimes we don't realize the hardships others have to go through while the majority of us wouldn't give it a second thought. One being the constant change such as moving.

Nicole Quintero, who moves quite often, said she is partially used to it by now, though it doesn't help much knowing she has to leave things behind. Having to cut things short and say a goodbye with the small time she has left, it has a hard impact on her mental state, she said.

She said she's moved a total of six times so far, which disrupts her friendships as well as school. Never being able to stay and finish everything in school or it gets cut meanwhile she has to then become far from her friends.

One being the new change of friends she has to make each time she moves. Whether it's school or areas, there has to be a change she must now get used to for a period of time.

Having to constantly change locations, whether it's school or a whole new town, definitely takes a toll on someone.

“I feel like it f—ed with me mentally because I always had to stay moving and I couldn't always stay and I always had to make new friends and I felt like it was really hard. And I was never told if I was moving. I was always told at the last minute like "oh, we're moving, pack your sh-t" and it's kind of like, could you tell me ahead of time like a notice or something?”

The sudden feeling of getting comfortable and then figuring out as a quick notice you'd be moving in a week or less is both stressful with needing to get a pack up everything again and knowing you'd have to say goodbye.

Sometimes there is not even enough time to be able to spend the last full memories with her friends due to the constant rush of needing to get stuff prepared and ready to go to a new place that could feel so unfamiliar but the constant change still remains familiar.

Though, there is still time to settle down and relax for a while, get a little used to the place and get yourself comfortable in the new surroundings and people.

Quintero doesn't typically stay in areas for a long time, though it is just enough to partially get situated and familiarize herself with the new area.

The time in each area spent ranges, she said. She never fully knows but it estimates close to a couple months to a year.

“Well, it depends 'cause in New York, I stayed in New York but I moved around houses a lot. And it would probably be a couple months and, like, I stayed in New York for a year and then I moved to San Jose. And before New York, I was in Stockton for like, a couple years. From first grade to seventh.”

She isn't all too aware of how long she has before she moves in each area which can be a hard thing to work with.

Never knowing how much time you have with your newly made friends knowing each moment you spend with them will have to be spent wisely.

It's hard even having to say bye to friends for a break like summer or winter; Quintero unfortunately has to say bye more frequently than others.

She admits it definitely takes a bad toll on her, having to constantly change things and feeling upset. I'm sure, knowing you can't always situate in a place.

Though, she is a regular student meaning that she can partake in how often she moves but only by a chance.

She also has some favorite memories in each place she's been in, some going along with hobbies she likes.

One being track that she did with her friend while living in Stockton.

“Well, Stockton, I like track. 'Cause me and my friends did track together and it was just a good time.”

Stockton being one of the places she's lived in for a longer period of time, first through seventh grade, she said.

Stockton has been the place Quintero has lived in for the longest period of time so far.

Though she does have some good memories in New York as well, such as being with family.

“And in New York, I feel like I had a lot in New York and a lot of it was with my family.”

Mainly family memories in New York and not as many memories of friends, unlike Stockton which was the complete opposite experience for her.

Quintero, now living in San Jose, said she has some favorite memories here as well, mainly with family and friends.

“And here, probably at school with my friends… Destiny.”

A memory she's brought up happens to be for her Quince that she did with one of her closest family members, which has passed already, which happens to be a good memory to her that she got to experience with both her friends and family in one spot.

“My cousin Julie is my age. We had our Quince together.”

Though, due to constant change, she said she does not have a favorite place that she's stayed at but luckily, San Jose is growing on her.