The Reality of Moving Schools | Yirumy Kim | TEDxBBIS Youth

The speaker reflects on their experiences of moving schools and countries multiple times, having attended five different schools on different continents. This constant relocation has led them to consider the pros and cons of frequently changing educational environments. One significant advantage highlighted is the exposure to diverse teaching styles, school systems, students, and new surroundings. While leaving friends behind is difficult, adapting to different environments fosters adaptability and confidence by teaching individuals how to start over and adjust quickly. These experiences, as noted in an article from medium.com, push people out of their comfort zones, promoting evolution and teaching resilience, wisdom, kindness, confidence, and the ability to understand people from various backgrounds. A major drawback is the challenge of adapting to new environments. The unfamiliarity of a new place can cause anxiety and discomfort, but overcoming this change can itself become a valuable life skill. Tips for coping with change, mentioned from an article on psyche.co, include identifying controllable aspects to maximize quality of life and using critical thinking to approach problems logically rather than emotionally. Another benefit is the opportunity to compare different school systems and teaching methods, allowing the speaker to adapt more efficiently to new schools based on past experiences. However, a significant disadvantage is that different schools teach material in varying orders. The speaker recounts a personal experience of having to skip a final assessment due to curriculum differences between schools, which negatively impacted their report card. This can lead to feeling inadequate when others are knowledgeable about topics not yet covered. While staying in one school offers familiarity, established relationships, and opportunities, moving schools cultivates crucial life skills such as adaptability, resilience, confidence, and the ability to socialize globally. In conclusion, moving schools presents both difficulties, like the emotional toll of leaving friends and the anxiety of new environments, and significant benefits, including the development of essential life skills and diverse opportunities. The speaker acknowledges that their own experiences have shaped who they are today.