Book: Up and Adum

Up and Adem—

Mommy came into our rooms every morning, up and adum she’d say. But the moment I’ll never forget was when she announced, up and addum—we are moving to Chile. That day, I told my teachers, “Redefine yourself. Leave things behind.” Little did they know, those words marked the beginning of a journey I didn’t yet understand.

The days that followed blurred into a whirlwind of packing, garage sales, and tearful goodbyes. In just a week, we were pulled out of school and packed up, life condensed into boxes and trunks. What my mom didn’t realize was that I felt a strange sense of relief. I was eager to escape the chaos of middle school, a place where I still hadn’t found my footing, where I sensed I would always be on the outside. Kids could be cruel then, and I almost knew I’d become their target. But deep inside, I felt a quiet strength growing—I knew it was time to go. Time for a new beginning.

I was allowed one trunk—just one—like the kind they sold at K-mart. One trunk to carry all my memories: stuffed animals, art projects, books, clothes—all 11 years of my life. That trunk became a symbol of resilience—a vessel holding both my past and my hope for the future. I remember jumping over it once and missing, cutting my knee open—still scarred today. That scar is a reminder; a testament to the many up and addums that life would bring. Each move, each goodbye, required me to start over.

And in those moments of departure, I learned that resilience isn’t about resisting change, but about embracing it—finding strength in the uncertainty. Saying goodbye is never easy, but it’s the foundation for growth. Moving taught me that no matter how many times life pulls us away from what we know, we carry within us the power to start anew, stronger and more resilient each time.