By the time I finished the sixth grade, my dad's job had moved us five times. For a red-haired, shy, dyslexic kid, this was a whirlwind of new schools, unfamiliar faces, and endless goodbyes. Each move felt like starting over, and in a pre-social media world, keeping friendships alive across state lines was nearly impossible. On the bright side, I got to experience the diverse heart of the Midwest-each town had its own rhythm, its own quirks. But as much as I learned to adapt, the constant uprooting shaped me, teaching resilience, and adaptability.