When you go somewhere new – a new country, a new school, a new phase of life – there’s this silent pressure to act like you’re okay all the time.
Like you’ve got it all together.
But some nights hit different. You lie in bed thinking,
“Why do I feel so off?”
“I should be enjoying this.”
“Why am I struggling when everyone else looks so happy?”
I’ve had those nights too. The kind where your thoughts won’t stop running and you feel alone – even when you’re surrounded by people. But I learned something important: you don’t always have to be strong.
It’s okay to feel overwhelmed. To admit you’re tired. To miss home. That doesn’t make you weak – it makes you human.
When I stopped pretending everything was fine and actually talked to someone about how I felt, something shifted. I wasn’t alone anymore. And I didn’t need to carry it all by myself.
So yeah, be strong. But also be soft. Be honest. Let yourself feel what you feel.
Because sometimes real strength is letting yourself fall apart for a moment – and then gently putting the pieces back together.
These tips are based on my experience learning Spanish on a work and study programme in Spain. Benedict Timpe
