It wasn't until college that I realized I was never really forming my own opinions about the world. My parent's thoughts were my thoughts, I always believed what my teachers told me, and I didn't question what my sister told me to be true. I grew up trusting the people around me, until one day I realized that trusting people and believing in the same things were not the same. Living abroad has expanded my perspective and the way I see the world. Although my viewpoint began to change when I was in high school when I met students from different countries, I listened to their stories without forming my own ideas about them.
When I came to New York University I had an open mind. I wasn't changed by the professors and students around me, but I was definitely impacted by what I was reading, hearing, and learning. Being in Paris has opened my eyes to new experiences such as trying new foods, traveling on my own, and feeling uncomfortable while trying to speak a new language.
I have learned that if you aren't uncomfortable sometimes, you aren't really living. Get outside your comfort zone! It is okay not to like every food, but it is not okay to say you do not like the food without trying it.
