Even now, in my fourth year of university, I still think about how it all started in middle school. As I went through high school, I started to say "yes" to more experiences that helped me grow and see the world differently. After graduating, I enrolled at UNO in Omaha and right away, I knew I wanted to study abroad.
I always dreamed of traveling and learning from other cultures. Thanks to the Goodrich Scholarship, which covered my full tuition and fees, I was able to start making that dream a reality. I talked to my advisor about studying abroad and started with a two-week summer trip to Ischia, Italy in 2023. It was my first time ever leaving the country. The class was about positive psychology and mental health; and not only did I learn about how to care for others, I learned how to take care of myself.
But something inside me told me that my journey wasn’t done. I wanted to experience more. So I went back to my advisor and asked about a longer program. That’s when I applied for a six-month exchange in Japan through a program called ISEP. I got placed at the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa and that’s where my life changed. Was it easy? No way. I felt homesick, nervous, anxious and sometimes even depressed. But I didn’t give up. I pushed through. I met amazing friends, created unforgettable memories and, most importantly, I discovered a new version of myself -- someone stronger, more open-minded and more confident than ever before.
When I returned to the U.S., I knew one thing for sure: I had to go back. So now, here I am again, currently studying abroad at Kwansei Gakuin University in Osaka, Japan. It’s a big change from the quiet island life in Okinawa, but I’m learning to adjust and grow all over again.
