Moving Back to India After Years Abroad. Need Advice!

I’ve been struggling with anxiety and a sense of depression ever since I found out my family is moving back to India. I really need to vent and maybe get some advice because I feel completely lost.

A bit of background: I grew up in India until I was about 11ish, when we moved to a new country. At first, it was really hard—everything felt foreign, and I was bullied a lot. But over time, I found my footing. I made friends, got involved in school activities, and even took on leadership roles. Academically, I’ve always had to work hard, but I usually do well. Still, a part of me always missed India.

Now, six months ago, my parents dropped the news: we’re moving back. And honestly, it’s been messing with my head ever since. On one hand, I’ve always missed home, but on the other, it feels like everything I’ve built here—my friendships, my achievements, my sense of belonging—is about to be wiped away. I know this move isn’t really a choice; my parents are struggling financially, and it’s a necessity. But that doesn’t make it any easier.

What scares me the most is the Indian education system, especially in high school. My cousins have told me how insanely competitive it is, and I can’t stop worrying: What if I can’t even manage average grades? What if I don’t fit in, even in my own country?

To make things worse, my parents haven’t even started the admission process for us. They’ve always been busy (or maybe a little careless), and since we moved here, my younger brother and I have had to handle a lot of household responsibilities—buying groceries, dealing with the landlord, stuff like that. People sometimes find it weird that 15- and 13-year-olds are managing these things, but we just brush it off by saying our parents want us to be responsible.

I’m currently in 10th grade, which ends in July here, but in India, the new academic year starts around March or June (not sure abt this). That means 11th grade might already be in session by the time I even get a school. No applications have been sent, no discussions have happened—nothing.

Every day, I feel like I’m wasting time. I don’t know what to prepare for, what my next steps should be, or where I’ll even be in a few months. The uncertainty is overwhelming, and it’s making my anxiety so much worse.

I’m posting here because I don’t have anyone else to turn to. I don’t know other Indians in person, and everywhere I look, I just feel more lost.