I lived on campus at George Mason University, sharing a bathroom first with ten girls and later with three others. I had a roommate who started as a stranger and became like a sister. Since my classes were nearby, I rarely used public transportation. Campus life created a small world where studying, socializing and growing all happened together. The people on my floor became a second family and helped me grow into someone more independent and adaptable.
Now, in Paris, I live alone in a studio apartment. This has been the biggest change. I am in a country I have never visited before, speaking a language I sometimes understand and sometimes don’t. Every task depends on me. Some days are hard, but every day brings growth. I don’t always recognize the 17-year-old girl who lived in Bogotá, but I know she is still with me; she is the reason I am here.
In Bogotá, my classmates were very similar to me. I studied at an all-girls school and grew up with the same 44 girls. Most of us came from the same city and shared similar cultural backgrounds.
In Fairfax, I experienced diversity in a completely new way. George Mason University is extremely international, and I met people from all over the world. This challenged what I thought was “normal” and taught me how to connect with others and adapt to new environments.
In Paris, my experience is different again. In my daily life, I am mostly surrounded by Parisians, but my school has many exchange students, which adds international perspectives. Even when the environment feels unfamiliar, it continues to push me outside my comfort zone.
