Same kind of classroom, same general stage of life, and for a lot of people, that uncertainty about what comes next. I’m only about five years older than you, but I remember that time very clearly. I didn’t have things figured out. I wasn’t confident, and there was a lot I was still trying to work through.
And honestly, in some ways, that’s still true. But I’ve grown, and a lot of that growth came from doing things that felt uncomfortable. This experience was one of those things for me. Talking with you, sharing my experiences, trying to make it meaningful for someone else, that pushed me a little. That’s not something I naturally lean towards, which is exactly why it mattered.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you don’t really grow by staying comfortable. That sounds like something people say all the time, but it’s true for a reason. Growth is usually not some big, dramatic moment. It’s small decisions. Trying something when you don’t feel ready. Putting yourself out there a little more than you want to. Taking a step without knowing exactly where it’s going to lead.
That’s how I ended up here. I didn’t have a perfect plan. I chose Spanish because I liked it. That turned into Portuguese. Then I just started applying for opportunities, scholarships, programs, things I wasn’t even sure I would get. And something finally stuck.
So if there’s anything I hope you take from that, it’s this. You don’t have to have everything figured out. You just have to take the next step.
Being here has taught me a lot, but not always in the ways I expected. Yes, Portugal is beautiful. The history, the architecture, the culture, it’s all real. But what’s stayed with me more is the perspective.
