Well, my friends, we officially have less than one month left on this crazy, fulfilling, challenging journey. Throughout the past 10 months I have thought about returning home countless times. During bouts of homesickness, the thought of being in the arms of my family has given me strength, but now that the time is approaching, going home is becoming harder to picture. The reality has become far more bittersweet. I’m excited beyond words to be with my family and friends again, but I have family and friends here that I will be leaving at the same time. Rwanda has taught me more than I could have dreamed. About myself, about where I want to go, and who I want to be.
A friend of mine recently commented on a photo on Facebook saying, “Who is that adult?” and this simple question struck me. It prompted me to realize just how different the person I am now is from the person I was in August. (Granted, I’m still weird and a little crazy, but that makes life interesting, right?)
My outlook on my future has changed immensely. Before, I was satisfied with following wherever life led me, as long as I was happy in the moment. Now, I’m looking for and taking steps to reach goals that I’ve only just discovered inside me. Including applying for Masters Programs- an idea I scoffed at before I came to Rwanda.
I wouldn’t say I’m a more serious person (what’s better than a good laugh?), but I do feel more grounded, focused. I’m more aware of my surroundings and how the things I do affect the people around me.
So, who is that adult? She’s an intelligent, beautiful, hardworking young woman. Where does she want to go? She wants to get her masters in arts administration and eventually manage a theater. Who does she want to be? She wants to be the person in charge. She wants to be the person that sees ways to benefit a community and to act on them, to do her best to give back. She wants to be self-assured, and confident in her decisions. And she wants to thank everyone and everything that has helped her get to this point.
A friend of mine recently commented on a photo on Facebook saying, “Who is that adult?” and this simple question struck me. It prompted me to realize just how different the person I am now is from the person I was in August. (Granted, I’m still weird and a little crazy, but that makes life interesting, right?)
My outlook on my future has changed immensely. Before, I was satisfied with following wherever life led me, as long as I was happy in the moment. Now, I’m looking for and taking steps to reach goals that I’ve only just discovered inside me. Including applying for Masters Programs- an idea I scoffed at before I came to Rwanda.
I wouldn’t say I’m a more serious person (what’s better than a good laugh?), but I do feel more grounded, focused. I’m more aware of my surroundings and how the things I do affect the people around me.
So, who is that adult? She’s an intelligent, beautiful, hardworking young woman. Where does she want to go? She wants to get her masters in arts administration and eventually manage a theater. Who does she want to be? She wants to be the person in charge. She wants to be the person that sees ways to benefit a community and to act on them, to do her best to give back. She wants to be self-assured, and confident in her decisions. And she wants to thank everyone and everything that has helped her get to this point.