Against all odds

At the start of a journey, there’s often an assumption that it will be smooth sailing, filled with rainbows and sunshine until the end. Rarely do we anticipate the unexpected bumps that lie ahead in the path.

With nothing but hope and a rolled-up hundred-dollar bill tucked into her pocket as her emergency fund for the journey, she left. Tears were shed at Logan Airport as she poured out her truth, hoping it would alter her destiny. Everything she once knew now felt like a distant memory, etched into the recesses of her mind with nothing ahead to anticipate. She had no idea where she was headed. Turning away and stepping into what would become a completely new world—her own home, her own family—she cast a final glance back, silently bidding farewell to everything familiar before boarding the plane.

8,521 miles away lay the place where this girl would gather all the fragments and reconstruct her life, rediscovering herself, unintentionally reshaping her identity on her own. In her eyes, nobody comprehended her, nobody showed concern, and nobody offered assistance. The harsh reality seemed to affirm this mindset once she arrived at JKIA at 10 pm on December 1st, 2005.

The reunion with her family proved to be fleeting, as she swiftly became a source of embarrassment to her parents. They had always prided themselves on having a daughter abroad, who they believed would one day elevate their status and bring great honor to the family. Yet there she stood, with only two suitcases, a hefty backpack containing all that she held dear and personal, and a pillow that had absorbed the tears shed during five years of solitary nights. She stood before her father, gazing into his bloodshot eyes, expecting a warm homecoming, a grand reception, but found none. She had nothing to offer—not even a smile or uplifting tales to share.

Two months passed, and with nothing but hope and determination, high school became the sanctuary for this girl. Defending her accent, she struggled to assert her voice as the new girl from a distant land now residing in the village. Navigating through peers who sought to diminish her, and humiliate her way of life, she found solace in love and empathy from others. It was in these meaningful friendships that her character was shaped.

The girl found herself on an emotional roller coaster at times, experiencing a sense of emptiness, rejection, or even betrayal from those around her. She faced an unpredictable and overwhelming transition, devoid of guidance and intensified by its suddenness. Despite the myriad challenges, she had to summon resilience, push through tears, and acknowledge that not all changes are comfortable, especially when they happened so abruptly and unexpectedly.

Maintaining a steadfast belief in her potential to defy the odds, unlike the discouraging statistics she encountered, she held onto hope, faith, and vision. She knew that one day she would emerge victorious, ready to share her story. With change often comes resistance, yet this girl was determined to prevail.

Adjustment disorder ( Stress Response Syndrome)

Google defines it as an emotional or behavioral reaction to a stressful event or change in a person’s life. A major life change can cause a short-term condition that happens when you have great difficulty in adjusting to new conditions or environments after a transition. Some of the visible syndromes might include:

Adjustment disorder syndrome symptoms usually begin within the first 3 months and rarely last for more than 6 months. They could easily evolve to a full-blown depression if left untreated.

This girl defied all odds and decided not to play or try to act like the victim she certainly was, but to become a victor in every little way possible in her life. In short, she chose to SURVIVE, against all Odds.