Growing Through the Unknown by Blake

Growing Through the Unknown by Blake - January 2026 Scholarship Essay

In 7th grade, I moved from the U.S. to Budapest, Hungary and with that came a total shift in my life. Everything and everyone I had spent my whole life with was gone. Things that were once familiar were no longer there. In Budapest I didn’t speak the language. I didn’t recognize the food. Even the street signs looked like puzzles I couldn’t solve. Back home, I had a rhythm, familiar friends, a school I understood, a place where I belonged. But in Budapest, all of that vanished overnight.

At first, I was overwhelmed. I got put into an international school where everyone spoke different languages and we were only united by one shared language, English. Even though I could communicate with English, I always felt one step behind. Most of my classmates were not new and were familiar with the culture, the food, the language, and even small things like social cues.

During my first few weeks I felt isolated and alone compared to how things used to be. I would sit at lunch and watch others converse, while being unable to join in fully. I felt like an outsider which was unfamiliar to me. I was used to going to school and already having friends and being able to hold conversations but instead I was stuck in a bubble. It was a serious adjustment, but overtime, I realized this uncomfortableness was an opportunity to grow.
Every day I walked into school I decided to force myself out of my comfort zone. I learned to move through my new life in Budapest in small ways. Through the uncomfortableness I had to learn to be more observant, I watched how people interacted, how they navigated the school, and how they adapted to others around them. Slowly, I started to do the same. I asked more questions and reached out to others even if it was not natural for me. Over time these small risks helped me to develop real relationships with my peers and others around me.

The international school environment was unlike any other. My classmates were from all over the world – Korea, India, France, Germany – and each person was completely different. I learned to listen, stay curious, and be open to other ways of thinking. Originally, I felt behind, but I learned that being new wasn’t bad, instead it helped me grow through experiences and interactions I would not have had back home.
One of the biggest things I learned in my experiences was how to be independent. In the U.S. I leaned on a routine and my familiarity. In Budapest I had to figure things out for myself. I became more organized, more responsible, and more comfortable with the unknown. I learned that I could start over, adapt, and thrive in a completely new environment. This experience didn't just help me adjust to a new life in a foreign country, but it helped me understand my own strengths becoming more flexible, self-aware, and willing to take initiative.

Looking back, I realized that while moving to Budapest may have been challenging it was also one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had in my life. It taught me that no matter how unfamiliar a situation may be, the ability to adapt and overcome is what helps us grow the most. Learning this lesson has taught me that with the right attitude and putting in the necessary effort I can overcome life’s challenges and succeed.