Michelle, 16 transferred schools last year when her father got a new job in Bangalore.

'I was really happy at my old school, so when my mum and dad told me we were moving I was really upset. We had massive arguments and I even asked a friend's mum if I could move in with them. It didn't matter how much I cried, or how hard I slammed the door, my parents had made my decision for me.

'I hated the first few days at my new house. I hated how dark and damp everything seemed, and because I didn't know anybody, I was forced to hang out with my mum. On the first day of starting my new school I barely slept at all. I kept remembering how badly we'd treated new kids at my old school and I knew that I'd be treated the same. I couldn't eat breakfast, but my nerves were made worse by mum trying to console me. She just didn't understand how hard it was going to be, trying to make a whole new group of friends. Especially since all the girls at my new school had probably known each other for years.

'My mum drove me to school, but I made her drop me off around the corner from the gates. As I walked into the building, I thought everyone was staring at me, whispering and pointing, but I know now that they didn't even notice me.

'My first class was the most embarrassing moment. The teacher made me stand up and introduce myself. One of the kids, the clown of the class, kept teasing me about my accent, but at least it broke the ice and I made everyone laugh by pretending I couldn't understand what he was saying.

'No one really spoke to me during the first week. I was really lonely. I had lunch by myself every day. The weekends and after school were the worst though. I was used to hanging out around the shops, daring my friends to do silly stunts and yelling out rude things to passer-bys. Instead, I was at home, doing my homework and watching TV with my mum.

'There was no big moment when I suddenly became friends with the others in my class. As the days went by and I slowly learnt people's names, I found myself joining various people for lunch and even getting involved in the silly gossip that went on.

'There were a couple of girls whom I was wary of - they liked to laugh at everyone, and were really two-faced, even with each other, so I stayed away from them. Funnily enough, there was a group of girls who really reminded me of my old group of friends, but I wasn't tempted to try and become part of their gang. I realised that I like being independent and not following what everyone else was doing, or saying or wearing.

'Six months later I have three really close friends. We tell each other everything, but there's no bitchiness - well, no more than you'd expect! I went back to see my old friends in Mumbai last month and it was great to see them, but nothing had changed in their lives. I felt so much older and more mature than them all. I don't know if we'll always stay in touch, but I guess my true friends will always remain just that.'