Studying abroad might feel like a far reach from where you're sitting right now, and I understand that more than you know. I was in your shoes once, back in kindergarten, daydreaming about what it would be like to travel the world. The idea felt equal parts exciting and terrifying. How could I ever leave home? Leave my parents, my sister, everything familiar? That question followed me for a long time. But here's what I learned: with dedication, patience, and the right support, it becomes possible. And the support matters more than people talk about. When I was on the edge, when doubt crept in, and the dream of going abroad felt too big or too far or too expensive, it was my parents, my friends, and my school that helped hold me steady. I didn't get here alone. Programs like the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship exist specifically to make experiences like mine accessible to students who need that extra push and financial backing to make it real. It opened a door I wasn't sure I could open on my own, and it can do the same for you. So when you're older, I encourage you to go. Study somewhere far from home. Travel while you're young, even when you're scared, even when the future feels uncertain. Money comes back. And so will you, to the family that will be right there waiting. Nothing back home will change. But you will, and that is entirely the point. You will never be as young and as free as you are right now, and the world is far more within reach than it appears.
And so, this is my farewell to you all. It feels like just yesterday that I created my Reach the World account and was paired with your class.
