This last journal entry falls on the week of my 26th birthday, and so I will leave you with photos from one last adventure in Karlovy Vary, near the border of Germany and Austria in the western part of the Czech Republic. I will also impart one last bit of advice from my experience abroad and as a first generation college student: Never say no to yourself. I never thought I would qualify for this scholarship to teach in the Czech Republic. The application was long, and there were so many other people who applied for this same position that made it very competitive. In many ways, it seemed easier for me to just say, "No, I won't apply. I wouldn't get it anyway." But I decided that if someone was going to turn me down for this scholarship, it would be the committee who makes those decisions. I wasn't going to be my own obstacle in achieving my dreams. So don't be afraid to take risks. It's okay if you are not successful in everything you do, but don't set limits on yourself. You've got to be your number one cheerleader!
