I when I was in 7th grade, I made a very big decision. I had a friend who lived in another town, and he attended a youth group. I noticed that he always enjoyed it so much. One day he asked me if I wanted to join, and I didn’t know how to respond. Not only would I only know one person, but it was filled with kids who live in a completely different town. These were kids who had grown up with each other for years. After he asked me many times, I gave in and decided to join. This was a big decision for me because I don’t often join new things.

The first meeting was very overwhelming. My friend was talking to people, so I just followed him. People didn’t really notice me at all. After a few meetings, the group leaders began to talk about a summer camp that would be held for the youth group. As they were explaining it, it sounded like fun and I wanted to go. A few weeks later, it was time to choose who would be in your cabin for the camp. This would be a challenge for me. I hadn’t made any friends, and my only friend was a boy. This meant he couldn’t possibly be in my cabin. I began to worry because the leaders were passing out pieces of paper for us to make our cabin requests. I decided to talk to the leader afterward. When the day for us to leave for camp came, I was nervous. Luckily, I got to sit next to my friend on the way there. When we arrived, I began to worry more about who I would be in a cabin with. I hoped that it wasn’t a bunch of girls who were already all friends, because it would be difficult for me to become friends with them.

Unfortunately, as luck would have it, all of my cabin-mates were friends. At first, they didn’t talk to me. I had to be outgoing, which was not me. I felt alone and nervous for the next few days. Luckily on the fourth day, I met a girl at the lake who was very kind. She introduced me to her entire friend circle, and they welcomed me. At dinner that night, I sat with them and felt comfortable without my friend for the first time.

The next few days were a lot of fun. Since I wasn’t from their town, they asked me many questions about my town. I shared stories and experiences that they didn’t have, because of their location. I grew close with a few of the girls, and we became good friends. Since I had friends, my confidence grew rapidly. My friends shared stories of their lives, and some were similar. Then, some were completely different. I realized how different someone’s life can be from your own. As time went on, I was more outgoing around new people. My new friends introduced me to new people every day. Instead of feeling like an outsider, I began to feel like someone who had been there the whole time.

On the ride home, I reflected on the week. I had stepped outside of my comfort zone, and it was a success. I made friends, tried new things, and became a more well-rounded person. If I had not accepted that invitation to join, I don’t think I would be the person I am today. I realized that in America we are all different in our own ways, but that diversity is what makes us grow together. We become understanding and knowledgeable people when we learn from each other. Being different from others is not something that holds you back; it’s something that pushes you forward through the maze of life.

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