This honors experience was originally going to be the credit-bearing study abroad experience, Changemakers. This organizational leadership class put a focus on challenges of developing nations, and was originally going to culminate in a study tour in Peru over spring break. Although the COVID-19 outbreak put an end to my original plans, I'd still like to talk a bit about the class, and how I've been handling the cancellation and subsequent weeks.
I sort of joined this program on a whim. Last semester I got a random email about the program, went to an informational meeting, and decided I was down. When I started the class, I was pretty excited that I was the only engineering student there. I was excited to meet as many new people as possible. I think there was sort of this mind-set that we knew we wouldn't really get the chance to get to know each other super well before the trip, but that we would get to know each other really well in Peru. That is one of the things I was really disappointed by, that missed opportunity to build deeper connections with everyone. Regardless, I did enjoy the class a lot. We read the book "The Last Days of the Incas", and I found myself sympathizing with their experiences and the tragic story of their downfall at the hands of the Spanish. This entire class helped me to become more well-rounded in knowledge and as an individual, which is something I value greatly. The perspective that was shed on what developing nations face was powerful as well.
The cancellation of study tours was only the beginning of the chain reaction that would become the collapse of life as we knew it over the next several weeks. Over several days of quarantine, I reflected upon what I really wanted to do, and where I wanted to be. I decided where I want to work, my plans for graduate school, my co-op plans. With these concrete mile-markers set in my future, I have a renewed enthusiasm to learn more, work harder, and aspire for what I want to do and where I want to be.
The cancellation of this trip hasn't soured my taste for adventure, only made me more eager than before to experience what the world has to offer. I will continue to seek out experiences that make me uncomfortable and allow me to meet new people, and I will live my life with the concrete goals for the future that I have driving me. I'm also going to enjoy the ride, and continue to hold on to the present, even though it sucks right now.
I sort of joined this program on a whim. Last semester I got a random email about the program, went to an informational meeting, and decided I was down. When I started the class, I was pretty excited that I was the only engineering student there. I was excited to meet as many new people as possible. I think there was sort of this mind-set that we knew we wouldn't really get the chance to get to know each other super well before the trip, but that we would get to know each other really well in Peru. That is one of the things I was really disappointed by, that missed opportunity to build deeper connections with everyone. Regardless, I did enjoy the class a lot. We read the book "The Last Days of the Incas", and I found myself sympathizing with their experiences and the tragic story of their downfall at the hands of the Spanish. This entire class helped me to become more well-rounded in knowledge and as an individual, which is something I value greatly. The perspective that was shed on what developing nations face was powerful as well.
The cancellation of study tours was only the beginning of the chain reaction that would become the collapse of life as we knew it over the next several weeks. Over several days of quarantine, I reflected upon what I really wanted to do, and where I wanted to be. I decided where I want to work, my plans for graduate school, my co-op plans. With these concrete mile-markers set in my future, I have a renewed enthusiasm to learn more, work harder, and aspire for what I want to do and where I want to be.
The cancellation of this trip hasn't soured my taste for adventure, only made me more eager than before to experience what the world has to offer. I will continue to seek out experiences that make me uncomfortable and allow me to meet new people, and I will live my life with the concrete goals for the future that I have driving me. I'm also going to enjoy the ride, and continue to hold on to the present, even though it sucks right now.