GL 350 last blog: How has the “Rome Experience” prepared you to become a global citizen?

I cannot believe I am in the middle of my eighth week here in Rome. I keep thinking about what Mike said the very first day. “The first week will go by slowly, but after that, every week will fly by faster than the week before it.” He was right, it seems like such a short amount of time since I first got here.  But after reflecting on the places I have been, all the things I have seen, and all the wonderful people I have become so close to, it is now evident that I have done so much in this short period of time.

A completely different person is coming back to America. The old me is now lost somewhere in Rome, Venice, Barcelona, Florence, Paris, Sorrento, Positonno, and Amsterdam. With every place visited, I saw things that changed me. I believe that I have changed for the better. I am now more independent. I feel as though I could go anywhere in the world by myself and be ok. I also have gained a global understanding. That not everything is the same as the U.S. That people can have different viewpoints, different lifestyles, different everything, and it is perfectly ok and beautiful for them to do so. I believe that I now am able to see the big picture when I look at problems before me.

I am now going to be more globally conscious of the world around me. I think I am going to stay more up to date with everything that’s happening in the world. My opinions on things have also changed, before, I only really cared about myself and my country and family. Now, I have a broadened view, one that takes the world into consideration.

I have become more connected to God after this trip. This is one of the things I am the most happy about. Dealing with my aunt’s death and all the struggles my mom has gone through over the years took me to a dark place, a place of doubt about His realness. Coming on this trip I have seen things that prove to me He is real, and He is more powerful and all knowing than I ever thought before.

 I have come to grips with how truly blessed I am to have everything in my life that I do. My family, friends, and life are now more cherished to me than ever before. I have seen many beautiful things on my travels, but there has also been some difficult things. This includes the homeless on every street corner and the woman with her toddler on trains begging for money for her child to eat. I’ve spoken with an Italian during my homestay, who was the same age as me, about the struggles of living in a country that has too many old people and not enough jobs for the young. These things I will also remember when I go back home.

Being secluded, not just by distance but emotionally, from everything in your life in a completely new place really gives you time to reflect. To reflect on what is important in life, what your priorities are, where you see yourself in the future, where you may have thought you saw yourself going and if that is still where you want to end up. The possibilities are endless! I am so thankful I got some time away, and that I was able to take some time to really reflect. It’s so important, especially at my age. I am a big believer of everything happening for a reason. The world is way bigger then I think anyone really realizes until they get out an experience it first hand. I am so thankful I got to travel and take advantage of all the opportunities I have before I have huge responsibilities to hold me back.

I now also know all in all I will be a better person because of this trip. I now feel as though I am limitless, that I can conquer anything in life that I want to. I can be whoever I want to be and live wherever I want to live. The world is mine for the taking.