I am open to admitting that no more than maybe five or six years ago, I would have never had the confidence to do the things that I am doing today. I am not the type of person to chat up a stranger on the street, go to a party or really be able to engage people in groups—it is very hard for me. I still have a lot to work on to be able to really hold conversations with people. However, this trip has really helped me with a lot of insecurities, and my experience let me see that even across language barriers, most (if not all people) do not think bad of each other. Whatever effort you are able to put forward, most people see that! They are happy to meet you in the middle. If you are apprehensive because you are not confident in your ability to meet people and be a social butterfly, sometimes leaving your comfort zone and home environment can really help you realize that you might be better than you think!
This is all to say, I am incredibly thankful to the Gilman Scholarship program for the opportunity and to everyone in Chile who really helped me grow academically and personally. I also want to thank all the students! You also played such a vital role in helping me look at things from different angles and reflect on how I could share how much I love Chile and the experience of traveling. I enjoyed our calls, conversations, questions and learning from one another! Good luck on the rest of your school year—stay open-minded and curious!
