I was thirteen when my life changed forever. Before the war, everything felt safe and certain. My father was a doctor, respected in our community, and we lived in a big house filled with comfort and laughter. I had my own room, a school I loved, and friends I thought I would have forever.
Then the war began.
At first, it felt far away, like something happening to someone else. But slowly, it came closer. The streets grew quiet, my father worked longer hours, and fear became part of our daily lives. One night, my parents told me we had to leave. I didn’t understand how we could just walk away from everything we had built, but I could see in their eyes that we had no choice.
We left with only a few belongings. I remember looking back at our home, wondering if I would ever see it again.
When we arrived in Canada, I felt completely lost. Everything was different—the language, the weather, the people. I missed my friends, my home, and the life I once knew. At school, I stayed quiet. Lunchtime was the hardest. I would sit alone, watching others laugh, wishing I could feel normal again.
But slowly, things began to change.
A teacher noticed I was struggling and checked in on me. A classmate sat beside me and shared her lunch. It was a small act, but it made me feel seen. My parents also started rebuilding our lives—my father returned to helping people, and my mother found support in the community.
With time, I started to open up. I made friends, joined activities, and found people who understood what it meant to start over. One day, I realized I no longer felt like a stranger.
I still carry memories of my old home, and I always will. But Canada gave me something new—a sense of belonging.
I didn’t just move to a new country.
I found a new home.
Kids Help Phone (KHP) is honoured to share creative content submitted by youth from coast to coast to coast as they Feel Out Loud with us. We thank the Feel Out Loud Community Creator of this piece for their contribution to youth mental health and well-being in Canada. For more information on the Feel Out Loud Community Creator Space and / or how you can submit your own creative content for possible publication, you can visit the submission page.
