The first step is always the hardest.

One of the sayings my mom always told me was, “The first step is always the hardest.” I remember vividly how the phrase rang true when we moved to a new area, and I had to start a brand-new school. It was the first year the school was opening, so everything felt unfamiliar. But my mom knew how to ease the anxiety and make the unknown feel a little more exciting.

Before the school officially opened, my parents decided to take my sister and me on a walk through the newly built school. It was a small but thoughtful gesture–walking through the empty halls, peeking into classrooms, and imagining the future there. I can still remember the feeling of seeing the classrooms for the first time, imaging where I’d sit, who I’d meet, and the adventures that awaited. My mom’s way of easing the transition helped me embrace the change, and I felt a lot more excited about the new chapter.

That walk became one of those moments I reflect on every time I face something unfamiliar or challenging. The first step really is the hardest, but taking it with people who support you, and even just the act of visualizing what comes next, can make all the difference. It didn’t just apply to starting a new school–it applied to any new experience in life. Looking back, I’m grateful for that simple walk and how it turned a nerve-wracking change into an adventure I was ready to take on.