I'm so sorry that the people close to you are gossiping so much. I can't tell you that I have traveled across the world and stayed at the destination, but what I can tell you may be more useful. I live in a very modern part of california, and all creative endeavors are welcome. all of the schools I have gone to have had good and bad people. teachers try their hardest to help, even when the school transition is small and you still have contact with your friends. there will be people who say they are your friend, and yet you can find them doing things that are much less than great to your reputation. I won't say it's inevitable, but I have had it happen to me. even so, eventually, you will find friends who are real, and actually care for your well being. the only thing to keep in mind is that you should always look out for yourself. no matter what is happening in the drama filled today, you will never really make good friends if you don't take breaks and do what you enjoy. Write, meditate, play video games, just do what makes you happy. it always helps. also, only doing what you like helps weed through the people who you have completely different interests from. you can always come back here and chat with people online. you may not know them well, but if this is part of a regular schedule, keep it up!

P.S. i'm sure if we ever were to meet, we would get along just great! I'm rooting for you.

I’m so sorry that the news had to spread like that. Ideally, you would’ve been able to tell who you wanted to tell when you wanted to tell them.

In terms of making new friends, I can help(hopefully)! Although I haven’t switched schools, I had to completely switch friend groups during my transition from elementary school to middle school two years ago. I was in an extremely toxic friendship and when I got the chance to leave, I took it. Yes, being a relatively shy, anxious person with a fear of failure and exclusion, it was hard. I will say that you’ll have it worse. I had a few friends that supported me while I found my footing, even though we weren’t close throughout elementary school. Anyway... I’m a runner, singer, pianist, avid learner, reader, and writer.  Define what you like before you even try to make new friends. Do not pretend to like something just to fit in, because chances are in a year or so you won’t be happy there. I joined the cross-country team, and one of the girls I ran with is in my current group of best friends. I joined an all girl singing group, which made me several friends. Like the Admin said, just spending more time around people with the same interests as you will help. And I know stuff like lunch can be hard. Just find some nice-looking people, maybe someone you saw in band or sat near in history. 

It’ll all work out, and your CB family will support you all the way!

-Licensed Bookworm 

First off, I'm sorry your news got out like that. I know what it's like to move at an older age, I just moved last year. I can hopefully offer up some helpful advice. Switching schools is hard, but if you're starting high school, everyone will be new. It's the best time to make new friends. Find other people with the same interests, join clubs, and try to talk. Chances are, people will be interested in getting to know you. If somebody starts a conversation, talk to them. Ask them what kinds of things they like, try to find some similarities between you. One of my biggest worries was that I would lose contact with all of my old friends, but that never happened. You can still have new friends and stay friends with the people you know now. Starting over is actually a lot easier that people make it out to be.

I hope some of this helps. I wish you luck! And remember, we're all here for you!

I moved when I was... six? Somewhere around six. I don't remember much. It was only to a new street, not a new town. That's probably not helpful. I did get lost in the new house at least once, though. I couldn't find the stairs.

I'm sorry it hurts. Your friends might hurt, too. Moving across the country is a big deal, and it's perfectly fine to be stressed. Your life is changing in a big way. But you didn't tell them about it. So when they found out on their own, how did they feel? Did they understand? Is that why they told other people what you wouldn't? I know you're scared. But you can tell them that, right? Do you trust them enough to open up and let them know what's going on?

I'm sorry, this probably sounds accusatory. I'm not trying to do that. But why did you keep it a secret? It isn't the same. It's bigger for you. You have more roots and it's harder to put them down. You wouldn't be making a mountain out of a molehill, you would be making a mountain out of a mountain. No one should think less of you for that.

If you want, you can tell your friends before someone else does. You could go around asking those who know to keep it a secret. You could continue like nothing is happening. They're probably going to find out, one way or another, even if it's on the day they look around and realize you're gone, or that you haven't been there for so long that you probably aren't coming back. My friend did that to me once. She moved to a different part of the state. She didn't tell me why or when. We didn't fight about it, but I felt... left out, like I wasn't a part of her life anymore, that she wouldn't tell me she was leaving. We don't talk a lot nowadays. I haven't seen her in years. It wasn't like we were close at the time. We went to different schools, and we didn't talk every day. But none of my friends were close, and I didn't have many of them. She was one of my last. For a while after she left I had no friends at all. 

Sorry, this probably isn't helping. It really sounds like you don't want to leave. I'm pretty sure that's normal. It kind of reminds me of Inside Out, actually. Have you seen that movie? The main character moves from the Midwest to California, although it happens really fast, exaggeratedly fast. I think the point of the scene in which she left was that she didn't have time to adjust. You still have time. You can use it to do anything you want to. You don't have to worry about starting life anew tomorrow. Speaking of which, are you going to start anew at all? You don't have to. You could wipe the slate clean, or you could keep what you've already drawn. Either way, you've been given an eraser. Is there anything you want to change?

I have run out of time to write. Remember, you have the power of the Internet! Have a quote I forgot the source of: No matter where you live now, you will always be from your hometown.