The Spirit of Adventure

The ancient Romans had a phrase for it: Carpe diem. My generation also has a word for it: YOLO. My motto? I want to have stories to tell, stories of adventures and challenges and people that define and shape me.

My time abroad will teach me to navigate a new country and culture, and I know I will experience a wide range of emotions, from eagerness and excitement to confusion and homesickness, when facing all the positive and negative events such an undertaking includes. It is scary to leap into the unknown, but embracing uncertainty, feeling uncomfortable, and taking chances are the best ways to learn and grow.

When I return home from South Africa, I hope to have gained a new knowledge of humanity and a fresh perspective on my own life. Spending a semester halfway around the world won’t be easy; it will be one of the hardest things I have ever done, and I don’t know if I can ever be completely prepared for it, but I believe that the benefits will outweigh the risks.

So in the spirit of adventure, here’s to four months of facing my fears, stepping outside my comfort zone, and writing my own story. Cheers!