For much of my academic life, it felt as though I partook in activities or projects in a very disciplined manner to reach a seemingly never ending goal. Even though all of my pursuits were my choosing, the motivation behind the decision-making felt slightly incomplete. Over time and without trying to pat myself on the back, I feel like I significantly improved at playing the game. I could construct a decent resume, interview well, and market myself in a way that showed how many valuable experiences I had (whether that be a college admissions board or employer).
For this trip, I want to forget the calculated resume-building aspects. I want to immerse myself in new cultures, challenge myself, and improve my skills because I want to. Over the past few years, I realized that one of my main goals in life is to help people and to make a lasting impact on the world, one that people will remember. I know that leaving a legacy is something innately wired in human beings and I am not unique in this way. But, as of now, the way I personally want to pursue this basic instinct is to help people. In my mind, this trip is a way for me to better myself so that I can more effectively see where help is needed. As of now, this is the only clear goal. Other things that come along with the trip (Spanish skills, trying new food, living abroad) are all bonuses for me.
Initiate, immerse, innovate, impact. These are the four words I have adopted to best describe what I am currently doing and also hope to do. I have initiated this venture for the reasons described above. I am going to fully immerse myself into new communities and societies. I hope to create something new that will help the world. And it is my dream that this new thing or idea will have a lasting positive impact. In a sense, this trip provides a basis for me to start looking for ways to make change.
“Frugal innovation” is another term that has stuck with me for years and I discovered it through through this TED talk. Essentially, the idea is that places that do not have resources to dedicate to creating new inventions need to rely on innovation that is simple yet effective. The talk goes on to explain how “first world” companies can learn from these tactics to improve their own businesses, but it requires them to delve into new communities and new ideas. This concept has also been a source of inspiration for my hopes and dreams.
In conclusion, I want to acknowledge the repetition of the phrase “as of now” used many times on this page. I am well aware that my goals and mindsets are prone to shifting, especially at the ripe age of 23 where in reality, I have no idea what I am doing. Furthermore, this blog is an outlet for me to record my adventures and lessons-learned in a central place where family and friends can partake in the journey alongside me. However, if no one chooses to tune into this blog, I will be a little sad, absolutely. Yet, at the end of the day, the memories are for me and will last a lifetime (until BlueHost cancels my domain name).