I encourage you to stay curious and think big. I hope that the pieces of my experience that I've shared might help you think a little differently about your own path towards exploration and travel.
The Gilman Program played a large role in making this experience possible in the first place, and I have also realized that it shaped my time abroad in ways that went far beyond financial support. The application process itself made me think more deeply about why I wanted to go abroad, not just to travel, but to learn, to grow and to figure out how I could bring those experiences back with me. Without Gilman Program support and without scholarships more broadly, this semester wouldn’t have been possible for me at all. Because of that, I feel a strong sense of gratitude, not just for the opportunity to be here, but for everything it pushed me to reflect on and engage with more intentionally.
Overall, this experience has shown me that growth doesn’t always come from big moments. Sometimes it comes from writing things down, from conversations across distance and from learning to see your own everyday life in a slightly different way. I’m really grateful for what Reach the World made possible, and for how it helped me stay connected, reflective and curious throughout my time abroad. I'm grateful for my time with you!
