The flight attendant rushes me to the gate. As she weaves through the crowded airport, I feel small and alone, my only anchor a stranger I met minutes ago. Boarding first eases my nerves, and during the flight I distract myself by watching La Princesita Sofia on my iPad. But when I am the last to step off the plane, those feelings return. I feel abandoned. My earliest memories are not of learning to ride a bike or celebrating birthdays. They are of flying alone between Colombia and the United States as an unaccompanied minor. Until high school, I spent half the year in each country. My dad lived in Colombia and my mom in Macon, Georgia, and my life was divided between two places, two cultures, and two worlds. Teachers often said this lifestyle gave me advantages, but I did not feel privileged. I missed social events and struggled to form lasting friendships while others built routines. Each move meant starting over. I tried to decide which country represented me more, but neither ever fully did. Instead of belonging, I felt in between. My parents worked hard to give me a sense of stability. My mom created a tradition called the “bed fairy,” leaving small gifts for my brother and me when we returned home. It helped, but I still felt nomadic, never fully settled in either place. My greatest constant was my older brother, who shared my experience. His understanding gave me comfort when I felt overwhelmed. On one difficult flight, he told me, “This too shall pass,” and those words stayed with me. Over time, I began to see the strengths my life gave me. I am bilingual and bicultural, which has helped me connect with people from different backgrounds. At school, I often translate for immigrant families during meetings and events. I have learned empathy through experience, not just observation. Saying goodbye so often taught me to value relationships and maintain them across distance. I no longer measure closeness by proximity but by effort and care. What once felt like rootlessness became adaptability and resilience. Today, I see my journey not as loss but as preparation. It has shaped me into someone compassionate, flexible, and determined. My experiences have taught me how to face uncertainty with strength and how to turn challenge into purpose.