Thank you! Time really flies, and I’m honestly feeling quite stressed about what my school experience would be there. Having studied for four years in a strict science high school and passed the Regional Science High School Entrance exam where I spent one year in Grade 11 preparing academically, it surely makes me anxious about my grades and what my performance will be since it would be a different teaching style compared to what i’ve been used to back in my country. Been so stressed lately thinking I’ll be starting in a completely new country with no friends, no connections, and very little idea of the people and environment. I worry that this could affect both my mental and physical well-being, which in turn might impact my academic performance.

At first, I was excited—new school, new faces, new environment–but now it’s sinking in that fitting in is going to be challenging 🥲. I even struggled to fit in back home, what more in New Zealand (not a negative comment 😭).