My New Life | Layla Kim | TEDxChadwick International School

Layla Kim begins her talk by establishing that growth requires courage and stepping out of one's comfort zone. She shares her personal journey of moving to a new town and starting at Chadwick International School, which she initially thought would be easy after the difficult admission process. However, she discovered that adjusting to everything new - town, school, friends, teachers, and even her pillow - was actually more challenging than getting accepted. On her first day, she was extremely nervous, didn't know where to go for advisory, and felt like a complete stranger. She initially clung to other new students she had met during orientation and spent much of her time missing her old school and friends, constantly texting them and making comparisons. This focus on the past made her adjustment more difficult. The turning point came when she decided to take small steps toward connection - asking people their names, requesting to sit next to classmates, and reaching out during break times. Gradually, other students began reciprocating, sharing phone numbers, inviting her to lunch, and even confiding secrets in her. As she made friends and became familiar with teachers and routines, she also grew comfortable with her new town and home through daily exploration and living. She concludes by reflecting that this unexpected challenge taught her more than she anticipated about persistence and that sometimes the real challenge isn't academic achievement but continuing when you want to give up.