~3 minutes · Anonymous if you want

Your First Day

ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਪਹਿਲਾ ਦਿਨ

If you came to America or Canada as a kid or a teenager, we want to know what that first day of school was actually like. A few quick taps, one story box if you want it. Anonymous if you want. We read every single one.

I'll go first

“Roll call, third grade, California. She stopped at my name and the whole class turned. Lunch was a roti nobody recognized. I told my mom it went great.”

— Aj, @therapaji

Why we're asking

Nobody ever asked. Thousands of us carried a first day alone — there's no record of it anywhere.
Your story teaches us. We're building an honest picture of what arriving actually felt like — it shapes everything we make.
With your permission — only ever with your permission — some stories become part of ਸਾਡੀ ਵਾਰੀ (Saadi Vaari), told back to the community so the next kid isn't alone with it.

What happens to my story?

Aj reads every single one.
If you allow anonymous quoting, we may share your words after removing details that could point to you.
If you choose community-learning only, your answers may shape combined findings but your words will not be quoted.
A credited story or recorded interview always requires a separate conversation and permission.

You can also keep your response private. It may be read by TherapaJi, but it will not be quoted or included in published findings.

part of ਸਾਡੀ ਵਾਰੀ — the stories nobody asked for

1 / 10

When did you land?

Roughly is fine.

Where did you land?

The town doesn't matter — just the corner of the map. We only ever report regions, never anything that points to you.

Did you speak any English that first day?Optional

How old were you?

However old you were — it counts.

How do you describe yourself today?Optional However feels right to you. This only helps us notice community patterns — we report groups, never any individual.

What grade did they put you in?Optional Did they hold you back a year?Optional

Roll call — what happened to your name?

It's a small moment. Most of us remember it 30 years later.

Lunch time —

Tap everything that's true.

When you got home, what did you tell your mom?

Whatever you said, it made sense at the time.

...and what was the true version?Optional

Now tell it in your own words — whatever comes back.Optional

If it helps: your name at roll call · what was in your lunch · who sat next to you · what you wore · the walk home. You don't have to cover it all — two sentences is plenty. What would you tell that kid on their first morning?Optional

Before today — has anyone ever really asked you about that first day, or that first year here?

No wrong answer. Take a second with it.

Can we share your story?

We may learn from combined patterns. You decide whether we can also publish your actual words.

You may quote my words anonymouslyNo name or identity details. We remove details that could point to you. Use only in combined community learningInclude my answers in group patterns, but do not quote my words. Keep my response privateTherapaJi may read it, but do not quote it or include it in published findings.

One last thing —

Totally optional — your story stands on its own either way. Would you be open to a 15-minute phone call to tell more of it? Only if you want. Just a conversation — no recording without asking, nothing formal.

ਅਸੀਂ ਸੁਣ ਲਿਆ।

ਤੁਸੀਂ ਦੱਸਿਆ। ਅਸੀਂ ਸੁਣਿਆ।

We read every one.

Thank you for going back to that morning. Most of us never told anyone the real version. Now it's written down — and it matters.

Know someone who came as a kid or a teenager?

A cousin, a chacha, the guy you carpool with. Send them this page — their first day counts too.

And if today is one of the heavier days for you or a man you care about — the 2-minute men's check-in is here →

ਠੀਕ ਹੈ — we'll reach out. Thank you.

In crisis now? Call or text 988 (US) · Talk Suicide Canada 1-833-456-4566
For adults 18+. We never publish anything beyond what you choose above. Privacy
This is advocacy listening, not therapy or a clinical record.