So Happy, So Blessed

I was walking to a little supermarket around the corner from the Telecentre one morning when I had a small revelation. It was a Sunday morning, and not many people were out in the streets yet. It was a beautiful day; the sun was shining brightly and it wasn’t too warm or too cold – the perfect weather. I left the Telecentre alone and for some reason, I immediately felt a complete sense of happiness, satisfaction, peace, love, and freedom that I don’t think I had ever felt before. I think this was the moment when I finally realized that I was in Ghana; I was in another country on another continent in a world about which I knew very little. Everything I knew and loved was an entire ocean away, and I was alone. But I was not afraid. I was not lonely or homesick or sad. I felt empowered, alive, and so grateful that I was blessed with this opportunity to see the world so early in my life. I began to think about the next six months and my semester abroad in London. So many new things are coming my way, but I know that I’m ready to take these new experiences and challenges head on. My college experience has opened my eyes to endless opportunities and experiences that I want so much to take part of. It is very easy to let fear and doubt rule your thoughts, especially when thinking about things unknown to you. But on that Sunday morning, I decided that I would not let fear or doubt or intimidation rule my thoughts or the decisions that I make. God has blessed me with this incredible opportunity to see part of the world during the crucial years of my life when I am really discovering who I am. Not many people have this opportunity to begin with, and even fewer take full advantage of it. It’s funny to think that less than a year ago, I was not even giving Study Abroad a second (or maybe even a first) thought! The advantages of “getting away” were not apparent to me, yet. But after hearing Study Abroad reviews from so many other students and discovering that it was in fact a possibility for me despite my tight schedule of classes, I began to think about it more. I really don’t know what made me decide to apply. I think God just placed something in my heart and my mind, and I knew that I was supposed to go. While I can’t know exactly what is in store for me over the next six months, I know that I will grow and learn and become a better person in the process. I know this because that it what has happened to me in Ghana this summer. There is something transformative about removing yourself from your normal life and engaging in the lifestyle of a people unknown to you. I have learned what is really essential for living and that no matter how different people across the globe may seem to be, we are all essentially the same. We all need love and companionship, we are all seeking balance in our daily lives, and we are all trying to find our place in the world and to connect with the Higher Being who created it all. Maybe this little revelation was a little bigger than I thought… :)

I am so happy with my life right now. I have the most incredible family I could ever ask for, beautiful friends that I can depend on, and a life ahead of me that is full of adventure, excitement, challenges, and victories. I know that there will be many times when I am scared, confused, doubtful, and sad; but when these challenges arise, I know that good things are soon coming.

God is good, life is great, and I can’t wait to see what happens next!