Viewpoints Staffer Mykolas Kumpis takes the leap from West Virginia to his new home state of Georgia. After he moved to Georgia in January of 2022, Kumpis quickly adapted to his challenging new environment. “The absurdly crowded hallways and the gigantic cafeteria of CCHS, each full of new faces, made my first week a dizzying experience that I’ll never forget,” Kumpis wrote. Illustration by Antonio Starks
Viewpoints Staffer Mykolas Kumpis reflects on his move from West Virginia to Athens and the overwhelming changes he experienced.
In 2018, I moved to Glenville, West Virginia. My formative years were spent in small-town Appalachia partying, learning and growing. The people and experiences that defined my time there will stay with me forever.
However, in January of 2022, halfway through my junior year, I faced one of the biggest changes in my life: I moved to Athens, Georgia.
My dad lived in Athens for a few years before I moved here, and visiting him frequently opened my eyes to the city and its people. This helped me settle in faster to my new home.
Something which immediately shocked me was the diversity of ideas. A big city means much more ambition and very different views. This impacted me profoundly, and restructured my relationship with education and redefined where I want to take my future.
I’m now on track to graduate with good grades and eventually go to college, a big change from how things were when I lived in Glenville.
My first days at my new high school demonstrated the diversity of Athens. Clarke Central High School, with 1842 students, showed me what a “big school” really is. This school has almost twice as many people as the entire population of Glenville.
The absurdly crowded hallways and the gigantic cafeteria of CCHS, each full of new faces, made my first week a dizzying experience that I’ll never forget.
Such a big change was very overwhelming.
The absurdly crowded hallways and the gigantic cafeteria of CCHS, each full of new faces, made my first week a dizzying experience that I’ll never forget.
However, I managed.
Falling back into the strict schedule of school helped return me to a familiar routine. Supportive teachers, classmates, and eventually friends helped make sure I was situated and comfortable. For that, I am thankful.
Now, eight months later, I feel like I’m where I should be. No longer do I dread walking into the cafeteria or barely get through the hallways. I feel like I’ve found my place here and am proud to call CCHS and Athens home.
