Starting a New Journey—Interactions

Below are some additional interactions on the article: Starting a New Journey. Read it first.

Map:

Here is a map of the area mentioned in Exodus 2. Moses was born in Egypt and ran away to the desert region of Midian. Check out where these areas are located:

View the map

Challenge:

The New School

You know the drill. Another school means leaving behind the comforts of what you’re used to. But getting prepared before you head off to your new school can make the experience a lot more fun and a lot less stressful.
What can I do to prepare for another new school?

Research as much as you can about your new school. Call ahead or check out the school’s website. Find out about the size of the school, the location, as well as the classes, sports, clubs, and extra-curriculars they offer.
Contact the school’s guidance counselor through email or phone. Check with him/her to see if there’s anything you need to have ready before you get there.
Join your Youth Sponsorship program. This is a perfect way to meet someone and learn all about your new school and installation before you even get there. Check with the Youth Director at your current installation for help finding the person in charge of the program at your new installation. Then, get paired up with someone your age who attends the school you’ll be going to. This person can tell you what the other teenagers are wearing, what music they are listening to, what the teachers are like, and what’s going on at the school.

Helpful Tips:

Get your transcript ready. Ask your guidance counselor to help you get an official transcript ready to send to your new school. In the meantime, ask for an unofficial transcript to take with you. You can use this to make sure you get scheduled into all the right classes at your new school.
Look at one of the suggested checklists below and get your official papers organized. You’ll need to bring several important documents with you in addition to your transcript, such as health records, test scores, etc.
Get involved. Once you do all your research about your new school, pick something to join. If you’re involved in an activity now at your current school, see if you can sign up for it at your new school too. Or try something entirely new! Moving can be a great chance to reinvent yourself or just to find different things you may like doing.

(Material taken from Military Youth on the Move)

Stories:

Here’s a guy with a short version of how he makes transitions work for him. Nice strategy:

“I’ve been to eight different schools in the last ten years. I have had way too many ‘first days of school.’ But I’ll tell you what, soccer is what has kept me sane. Most places play it year-round, so no matter when I move, I can find a team. With every team, I’ve been able to meet at least 15 new people. And those 15 people all have other friends. Pretty soon, I know a ton of kids!” Jose, 15
(Material taken from Military Youth on the Move)

Scripture:

Genesis 8:13–22—After the great flood that wiped out all of humankind and animals except those on the ark, Noah and his family had to figure out how to make life work

Small group guide:

SMALLLARGE GROUPS – PCS Here We Go Again SG

Video:

Alligator Sky: This video is a bit about the newness of starting a new journey. Interesting words. What do you think?

This clip is from the movie The Great Santini. This clip shows the Meechum family as they begin their new journey in Beaufort, South Carolina. They are challenged by their Marine dad to make a difference in their new location! This hardcore approach may work for some, but clearly not for every family member. We all have our own responses to new challenges, so don’t feel like one approach fits all. You need to find your unique voice in how you navigate these waters with resilience.

Large group guide:

SMALLLARGE GROUPS – PCS Here We Go Again LG

Life Questions:

When you are new to a place, have you ever helped someone as a means of fitting in? If you’re new, try finding someone who needs help and do the Moses thing by helping them out. If you have been around for a while and haven’t PCSed recently, then find someone who has recently moved to your location and ask them to help you with something; in other words, turn this strategy around and ask for help in order to help someone else fit in quicker.
Discuss with your friends different ways they’ve used to get connected at a new place. Rate the various stories you have as to the worst and best ways to get connected (like selling drugs may be the worst and joining a team may be the best).

Reflect:

Here are some ideas for fitting in to a new location. Do you think these are helpful, or do they miss the reality of your experience as a military teen?

Fitting In:

Sometimes when you move to a new place, it can feel overwhelming because no one knows you. You might be worried that you won’t be liked or accepted at your new school. It’s really easy to think that if you act a certain way or talk a certain way that you will be more popular and make more friends. But in the end, most teenagers can see through an act. Check out the info below to see the best ways to fit in.

What’s the best way to fit in at a new place?

Be yourself. The best way to fit in is to be yourself. Think about all the important things about you. Maybe you love writing stories. Maybe you love the outdoors. If you feel like you have to hide any of these things to fit in with a group of kids, maybe it’s time to find other friends.
Don’t give in to peer pressure. If you are being asked to do something that you feel is wrong inside, don’t give in just to fit in. It’s not worth it! You’ll probably wind up with fewer friends and in a lot of trouble in the long run.
Don’t change yourself for others. If all the teenagers at your new school are into something that you don’t like, make sure you don’t change who you are just to fit in for that moment in time. Stick to your own way to live your life.
Start small. Don’t try to make friends with too many people at once or change yourself to try to become the most popular kid in school. Get to know the kids at your new school first. Be positive and honest, and those kids who are worth being your friends will want to get to know the real you.
Get involved. Find something you’re interested in at school or on the installation. Once you’ve joined an activity, it’s easier to feel like you belong because you’re around people with similar interests.

Helpful Tips:

Remind yourself about all the good qualities you have. When you begin to doubt yourself or notice that you are changing who you are to try and fit in, think about all the things that make you a special individual.
People eventually will see through an act. Sometimes it might feel like the kids who are willing to change themselves and act or dress in a certain way are the ones with all the friends, but in time, others will see through it. Your only job is to be yourself.

(Material taken from Military Youth on the Move)

LOL:

OK, this is just for laughs because it’s a funny song about a weird passage in the Bible. After the first time through the chorus, you can sing along (kinda like a Country Western song!). Have fun!