Teens. Hate. Change.

Change can always have positive or negative outcomes for a person depending on who it is, and what they change is, or what it’s about. For Amelia her newest change, which would become a great challenge quicker than she expected, was her freshman year of high school, in a completely different city.

            “Dad, I still don’t understand why we have to move to Los Angeles on such short notice. I like Susanville perfectly fine and I barely got to say goodbye to Sam and Lea before the summer started!” Amelia grumbled as she packed up all her belongings into several cardboard boxes that were meticulously labeled so that nothing would be mixed up during the big move. “I’ll have to start school all by myself with no one to be with me through all the confusion. This is high school we’re talking about dad! The beginning of this year can make you or break you for the rest of your life in a snap, and without any friends or a boyfriend or something I’m a shoe-in to be the new geeky mascot and outcast for all eternity!” “Amelia-,” “Mom, you understand, don’t you? Please tell Dad we should just stay here in Susanville…or let me move in with Aunt Clare until college so I can stay!” “Amelia,” her dad began, “This is the best for all of us. You’re going to love L.A. I promise. There are so many exciting places to go to and things to see, and yes, we are talking about high school. It’ll be the greatest four years you will ever know! Just because you are starting off as a freshman doesn’t mean you’re going in alone. You’ll have your mother and I with you, and I’m positive that you’ll make plenty of new friends on your first day who can show you the ropes and accompany you on this new journey. Oh Amelia, I still can’t believe you’re starting high school in a week. You’re growing up so fast sweet heart! You make me feel so old now,” Amelia’s dad said with a wide grin. Amelia walked out of her room with the last full box marked with the label, “Photos and notes,” into the front room where everything else to be loaded on the moving van had been placed.

            The car ride was very long 10 hour drive from Susanville to their new home in Los Angeles, with very few stops for snacks, drinks, and to use the restroom.

 “Dear Diary,                                                                       August 28, 2013

            Why do all the bad things happen to me? Why is it that I, of all the students at Meadow View, must I be the one to have to move all the way down to Southern California right before freshman year is to begin? My parents must hate me. I don’t know what I’m going to do without Sam and Lea! I mean I know I can still text them, but let’s face it, they’re going to move on with in the next few months without me since I’m not there, and I’ll be all alone. Even worse, we’re moving to LOS ANGELES!!! That place is huge! I’m sure it is absolutely nothing like Susanville, I’ve seen it depicted in movies after all. The only thing I have to look forward to in L.A. is there are many celebrities who live there, and it has many beaches. Sam told me to go to the Hollywood walk of fame and take pictures by Brittney Spears’ star, and Lea wants me to send her a t-shirt from Hollywood with the Hollywood sign on it. They’re more thrilled that I’m moving to Los Angeles than I AM. Will they even miss me at all? And get this; I haven’t even seen a picture of our new house yet. Mom and Dad say they want it to be a big surprise…I hate surprises. This whole experience is building up to be one gigantic nightmare, and to make matters worse: I’m exhausted from being in the car so long! It’s already 9 o’ clock and we have at least 2 or 3 more hours of driving ahead of us, and I am hungry too. My only comfort is my music, but even Katy Perry isn’t helping me at this point. I think I’m going to try to get some sleep for now…”

“Dear Diary cont.,

It’s 11:48 pm now and I just woke up from a short nap. My mom woke me up cause we finally entered Los Angeles and she wanted me to actually see us coming through. And you know what my first impression is so far? Lights. Lots and lots of flashy signs and colorful lights. I can’t believe I really have to say this, but goodbye Susanville, hello city of Angels.”