In the last 20 minutes I have laughed at my own stupidity, almost cried from stress and exhaustion, tackled my best friend who is Spanish, hugged a Begin, studied physics, contemplated how what I have learned in psychology applies to my life, and cleaned the communal kitchen. This is a pretty average 20 minutes at UWC. How is this possible? I am constantly asking myself this. Either ‘how did I possibly just do that?’ or ‘how am I possibly going to do…’ Of all the many important lessons I have learned in my 9 months at UWC one of the most important is that nothing is impossible, some things just take a bit more work.
Out of all the ways I have grown since I first came to UWC the academic and intellectual is the most quantifiable. The last couple weeks have been the end of year exams so all the knowledge I have obtained is bouncing through my head. I find myself applying the business cycle to things I hear about the American economy, applying physics to why it is so hard to get out of bed in the morning and cultural dimensions in psychology to my relationship with my Turkish roommate.
In addition to academic and intellectual growth I have matured and grown as a person. I have become more aware of my emotions and more capable of expressing myself. I have learned to understand and appreciate the morals and values my parents and community back home gave me and apply them to my life here, but I am also learning to leave room for more and let my perspective be altered by those around me. I have cried with frustration, loneliness, disappointment, and joy. I have laughed and shared precious moments, I have prayed in mosques, and churches, to rivers, mountains, Allah, Pacha Mama, and God. How is all this possible? I have no idea, it blows me away!
Today is the last school day of my 1st year at UWC. Thank you everyone for making this experience possible and making it as wonderful as it has been!!!!!! I can’t wait for next year and I want my last 10 days in Mostar to last as long as possible!
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