Finding your place and belonging

Starting fresh can feel exciting… and terrifying. Here’s how to thrive when everything feels new.

Starting something new can feel exciting – but also a little scary. Whether you’re moving up a school year, joining a new class, starting college, or stepping into a new team, it’s normal to wonder:

Am I good enough?

Will I fit in?

Do I really belong here?

These questions can be tough, especially when you are already juggling change, expectations, and maybe even self-doubt. The truth is, most people feel like this when they begin something new – they just don’t always say it out loud.

Belonging isn’t about instantly feeling at home. It’s about gradually finding your place, building connections, and learning that you do have something valuable to bring.

Why belonging matters

When we feel like we belong, we are more confident, motivated, and open to opportunities. It gives us the security to take risks, make mistakes, and grow. Without it, we can shrink back, second-guess ourselves, or avoid challenges – which stops us from thriving.

Tips for thriving in new environments

1. Remember that everyone is adjusting

Even if others look confident, chances are they’re also nervous underneath. You’re not the only one finding your feet.

2. Focus on what you bring

Think about your strengths – kindness, humour, organisation, creativity, resilience. Belonging isn’t about being like everyone else; it’s about contributing what makes you unique.

3. Be open and curious

Ask questions, introduce yourself, show interest in others. Small conversations open the door to bigger friendships.

4. Create mini-goals

Instead of expecting to feel instantly at home, set small challenges: sit with someone new at lunch, speak up once in class, join a club. Little wins build confidence.

5. Be kind to yourself

It takes time to settle. Feeling uncertain doesn’t mean you don’t belong – it means you’re human. Treat yourself with patience and self-compassion.

6. Find your anchors

Keep hold of routines, hobbies, or friendships outside the new setting. Familiar things give you balance while you adjust.

A final thought

Belonging isn’t about being perfect or proving yourself – it’s about connection. It grows with time, through shared experiences, and by letting yourself be seen. If you’re starting something new, give yourself permission to be a beginner, to learn, and to take up space. You do belong.

Understanding Anxiety During Times of Change

For many teenagers and families, this time of year brings about change. A new school year is beginning, some students are returning after long holidays, and others are preparing to take the next big step to college or university. These moments of transition can feel exciting, but they can also bring with them something else: anxiety.

Anxiety is something we all experience, yet we often avoid talking about it. It can make us feel nervous, unsettled, weak and even overwhelmed — especially when we are facing new situations. If you are feeling this way right now, you are not alone.

Why Anxiety Rises When Change Happens

Anxiety is your body’s natural way of responding to uncertainty. When something new or unfamiliar is ahead, your mind goes into alert mode. You may notice your heart beating faster, your stomach feeling unsettled, or your thoughts racing. These are completely normal responses, part of your body preparing you to face what comes next.

Big changes — starting a new school, moving into a different year group, leaving home for the first time, or stepping into university life — all carry uncertainty. We often feel anxious when:

• We face the unknown – Not knowing what to expect or how things will turn out.

• We put pressure on ourselves – Wanting to succeed academically or socially and fearing failure.

• We feel a loss of control – Change can make us feel like life is moving faster than we can keep up.

• We are worried about belonging – Will I make friends? Will I fit in? Will I be accepted?

• We are separating from comfort zones – Leaving home, familiar teachers, or old friendship groups can be unsettling, even if we think the change is positive.

Understanding why these feelings happen is the first step to managing them. Anxiety is not a sign of weakness — it is a sign that you care about what lies ahead and that it matters to you.

Practical Ways to Manage Anxiety During Transitions

Although anxiety can feel overwhelming, there are steps you can take to make it more manageable:

1. Acknowledge Your Feelings
   Pretending you are fine when you are struggling can make anxiety stronger. Talk about how you are feeling with someone you trust — a parent, a friend, a teacher, or someone neutral who can listen.

2. Focus on What You Can Control
   You cannot control every outcome, but you can control small, daily actions: preparing your bag, organising your time, and setting realistic expectations for yourself.

3. Take One Step at a Time

   Big changes can feel less intimidating when broken into smaller, manageable parts. Rather than thinking about the entire year ahead, focus on getting through the first week, the first day, or even just the next conversation.

4. Limit the Comparisons
   It is natural to compare yourself to others, especially on social media, but remember that everyone’s journey is different. What works for someone else may not be the right path for you.

5. Build Your Support Network
   Friends, family, teachers, and mentors can all be valuable sources of reassurance and encouragement. You are not meant to handle everything alone.

To summarise -

If you are heading into a new school year, returning after the summer, or moving away to university, remember this: it is okay to feel anxious. It means you care, and it means you are stepping into something important.

Be proud of who you are and the values you hold. Change can test us, but it is also an opportunity to grow. Stay true to yourself, but be open to understanding others, listening to different perspectives, and working together. Life is not about following a single path; it is about finding the route that feels right for you while learning from the people you meet along the way.

We Are Here to Help

At Connected Minds, we work closely with teenagers and families to support them through challenges like anxiety, stress, and periods of change. Whether you are a young person feeling overwhelmed or a parent trying to help your child, you do not have to face this alone.

If you would like guidance, strategies, or simply someone to listen, we are here.

Your future is not defined by one moment, one decision, or one transition — it is built over time, step by step.

Always believe that you are capable of more than you think.

RESULTS DAY

Results Day – What Really Matters

As summer begins to wind down and August moves steadily forward, there is a noticeable shift in the air – and it is not just the weather. For thousands of young people and their families, we are now approaching GCSE and A Level results day. That one day, highlighted on calendars and sitting quietly in the back of everyone’s mind, can feel like a looming wall – solid, unmovable, and sometimes frightening.

It is completely normal to feel a wave of emotions during this time. Anxiety is often right at the centre – that twisting, churning feeling in your stomach that will not go away. What if I have failed? What if I have let everyone down? What if I do not get the grades I need? The fear of failure can be overwhelming, and the pressure – whether it is coming from school, family, or ourselves – can feel almost too much to carry.

There is also that quiet but persistent worry about the future. For many teenagers, this is the first time life has felt like it is at a crossroads. You might be asking yourself: “What happens next?” or “What does this mean for university, college, or work?” These thoughts can spiral quickly, especially during those quiet moments before sleep or in awkward conversations with well-meaning adults who ask, “So what are your plans?”

Let us also talk honestly about disappointment – whether it is real or imagined. The fear of letting people down – parents, teachers, friends and yourself– can weigh heavily. But here is something that is not said enough: you have not let anyone down simply by trying. You have already shown determination and strength by sitting those exams under intense pressure, navigating school life, and coping with everything else that has been going on around you.

There may also be feelings of shame or embarrassment, especially when social media is filled with celebration posts. You might feel jealous, left behind, even angry. You might find yourself comparing your results or choices to others and convincing yourself that you have somehow messed up the “only chance” you had. Please pause and take a deep breath. Because it is not your only chance, and this one moment does not define you.

What does define you? It is your resilience, your ability to keep going, your courage to face challenges even when they feel too big. Your kindness, your creativity, your sense of humour, and your loyalty to the people who care about you. Grades do not measure these things, but they are the qualities that will shape your future, your relationships, and your happiness – and they will always take you further than an exam grade.

If your results do not match your expectations – yes, it may hurt. Yes, it is perfectly okay to cry, to feel angry, or to feel lost. But it is not the end of your story. In fact, many people discover their true path after facing disappointment. There are always other options. College courses, apprenticeships, retakes, alternative routes, and new opportunities that you may not even be aware of yet. This is just one step – not the final word.

And in the middle of all of this, there are the stable things in your life. They might not always make the most noise, but they are there: family who love you without conditions, friends who have stood by you through the highs and lows, teachers and mentors who truly care. These are your anchors. They will be there for you – whether you are celebrating or rebuilding. Let them in. Talk to them. You do not have to go through this alone.

At Connected Minds, we know just how difficult this time can be. We are here to support you as you navigate the emotions, the uncertainty, and the questions that often come with results day. Whether you are the student, the parent, or someone trying to help a young person through this time, we can help you find strategies, make sense of your options, and feel more in control of what happens next.

You are not alone. And your future remains wide open – full of potential, promise, and possibility.