New opportunities help us find things that we love doing, and to persevere in the things we don’t enjoy so much. If you want to visit or live in another country, you should find an opportunity to learn a new language while you are in school. You should even try to take opportunities that you think are too big or too unlikely. When I first applied to the Fulbright Scholarship, I thought there was no chance that I would be accepted. I took the opportunity to apply anyway, and it has led to one of the most exciting experiences of my life.
Finally, don’t give up! When you take new opportunities or difficult things happen in life, the easy thing to do is quit. I definitely felt like quitting when I failed Algebra 1 my first year of high school! But when I took the class again with a new teacher, I passed with an A. In your journey toward college, a career, or maybe an overseas adventure like mine, you have to have perseverance. When you have hard days, or weeks, or months, don’t quit! You will need that strength and diligence in the future.
I hope that all of you have an opportunity to experience another culture someday. Living in another culture teaches you so much! You can do this in so many different ways, such as through the Fulbright Program, the Rotary and through other scholarship opportunities. Maybe one day you will have a career overseas! Anything is possible. Wherever you are, when you meet someone from another culture, take the chance to listen to their stories, ask about their favorite traditions and learn a little of their language. That’s an opportunity you should never pass up!
