It’s been a long eight months abroad and I’ve learned so much along the way. In England last summer, I spent my time in long lectures on international law, trying to discern if my burning light for law was strong enough. My plans for my postgraduate life started to take shape. Being away from home during a time I usually spent with family and close friends was hard. Learning how to self soothe was even harder.

In the fall I packed my suitcase yet again and headed to Morocco, a melting pot of culture and society in northern Africa, to face a whole new set of challenges. My passion for Arabic and the Middle East and North Africa region inspired me to embark on a language program for four months in the capital city. Culture shock couldn’t even begin to describe my experience as I dealt with new societal norms, a language barrier, and living with a host family. Going from a hyperindividualistic society in America to a collectivist community meant sharing taxis, meals, rooms, and buckets with those around me. While it felt uncomfortable and jarring at times, I realized how much more content and efficient collectivist societies were.

Looking back on it now, it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I learned what I want from life, what inspires me, and that you can never have too much mint tea. I was able to separate from the western mindset, and found so much joy and understanding in doing so. Being on my own for so long I had to figure out who I really was. Writing and reading were my life rafts. As my language proficiency improved, so too did my love for my host family and every aspect of Moroccan culture. I gained the confidence to solo travel and make decisions. When I felt most alive was when I traveled to new places—the Saharan Desert, Rome, the Atlas Mountains, Amsterdam, Fez, to name a few—and observed different ways of living a meaningful life.

Now, I’m living in Australia’s capital going to university and interning with the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership. While the past year has felt entirely too long and utterly short at the same time, I’ve realized that my passions are constantly developing. While fifteen year old me could never see herself working as a bartender on a continent nineteen hours ahead of those she loves most in the world, I believe human beings have the unique capacity to surprise ourselves. Follow your dreams, you never know what’s waiting for you on the other side.