After years of planning and hours upon hours of packing, I am in Paris, France. I have been anticipating my study abroad experience for the past three years. Even before then, for the longest time, it had been my dream to go abroad. My mother had studied in Ireland, which is… read more
Create Your Own Possibilities
If you told me freshman year that I would be living in Singapore for a semester during my senior year, I wouldn’t have believed it. Picture my freshman year starting amidst the swirling chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, Zoom calls echoing through the walls of my home in the Rio… read more
Beauty in Every Corner
High on mountain peaks, I gazed and longed to linger, admiring cherry blossoms. How the ceaseless winds must be caressing them now. This poem, written in the Heian period by an anonymous poet in waka style, perfectly captures the emotions I’ve experienced… read more
What Makes You Special?
As the lovely cherry blossoms have gently taken flight with the breeze, I face the harsh reality that my time in South Korea is, unfortunately, not going to last forever. I’ve made amazing and unforgettable friends who have made me feel welcome and safe. I think about the ways my… read more
Step by Step
When I missed my connecting flight to South Korea three weeks ago, I thought it was a sign from the universe that leaving home wasn’t the best idea. I struggled to find peace while I hastily shouldered my heavy duffel and tried to figure out how to get on the… read more
Beauty in Everything
As I reflect on the past two and a half months that I’ve been in Europe, three words continue to pass through my mind: Life is beautiful. The life I’ve curated here is beyond what I ever imagined for myself. This may seem cheesy to admit, but after spending time… read more
