Looking back on my "hero's journey" during my time in Germany since I came back to the United States has been fun. I think it will take time for me to fully digest all the lessons and history I learned during the program, but already I feel like I've come back better and stronger for it.
One word of advice I'd give to my past self would be to have trust in the process. Trust that I can always figure things out even when it feels like nothing is going right. When the Deutsche Bahn was late, the countless times I got lost, losing connection on my phone, not understanding a word on the menu when I was at a restaurant. All these things and more were anxiety inducing every time, but in the end I always figured them out. I constantly beat myself up for not getting the hang of things right away, which is impossible to do as someone navigating a foreign country for the first time. I would tell my past self, "prepare to be humbled."
I definitely feel like I have gained confidence in myself and my abilities. I thought back to when, as a freshman, I was too scared to even take the Aggie buses to get to different parts of campus but now I was getting on a train to Paris, a plane to Barcelona, and figuring out the public transportation of different European countries-- many times by myself. It may not seem like a super impressive feat but my younger self would flip out if she knew.
I think that during this program I really learned to live in the moment and appreciate the things I did and the places I went to. I was very busy and stressed many times, sure, but I simultaneously got to make some amazing memories while having the time of my life. The majority of people in my immediate and extended family haven't had the opportunity to travel, and it wasn't exactly something I thought I'd get to do for myself, at least not while I was in college. Now that I've done it and seen that it is possible, I feel like the there's so many places and experiences waiting for me out in the world. Now that I've gotten a taste for what it's like, I want to keep doing it-- hopefully next time with less MCAT and med school applications getting in the way!
Howdy Michelle! I totally agree with your advice and think that’s the best advice anyone can have while going through a trip like this especially! I wish you the best of luck during the MCAT and it was amazing to have you on this trip with us! Wishing you all the best!
ReplyDeleteHowdy Michelle,
ReplyDeleteI agree, it was difficult and frustrating that I could not understand how to do something even though I was in a new country. I was so hard on myslef. But with support, like friends, we were able to manage and we got through. That is a perspective I will definitely apply to other aspects in life.