My favorite moments weren't the famous landmarks - they were the quiet ones. Sitting in a Berlin park with new friends, laughing, eating a pretzel, listening to music and (sometimes) doing homework. Those are the moments I'll carry with me forever.
I also worked really hard on my German while I was here. Learning a language is one of the most powerful gifts you can give yourself. It's like getting a secret key that opens doors to whole new worlds. Achieving fluency allowed me to make connections that would never have been possible without learning German.
And then - spring break! I hopped on a plane and flew to Italy, where I spent time in Rome and Naples. I visited the Colosseum, ate the most incredible pizza of my life in Rome (not in Naples) and stood before the ancient ruins of Pompeii, which are thousands of years old.
Here's what I want to leave you with: the world is so much bigger and more wonderful than any screen or textbook can show you. I hope that one day, you will have the chance to go out and see it for yourself. Know that you don’t have to go through the study abroad process (or university process) alone. Scholarships, like the Gilman Scholarship that helped me, and generous aid from universities all over the country, are waiting for you when you get older. Dream big, get good grades and believe in yourself.
You have been such a joy to connect with this year. Your curiosity, your questions and your energy have been a bright spot in my adventure from thousands of miles away. I hope a little piece of Berlin now lives in you, too.
Bis bald - that means "see you soon" in German.
