going home

My time here in Ireland is coming to an end as I leave tomorrow morning for home. I can't fully express my gratitude for this entire opportunity and for all my friends and family who helped make it possible and who have endlessly supported me through it all.

It seems impossible to even find the words to sum up this entire experience. I've gotten to see and fall in love with so many beautiful parts of the world. I will deeply miss this people I've met and look back fondly on the experiences I've had. The time away has also been eye opening to just how much I have to be grateful for at home. It's helped me to re- appreciate the little things I love so much about home-- long car rides with friends, bonfires with my family, sushi with Alex, and I could go on forever.

I believe there are different points in our lives that are faced with difficult, important decisions about our futures. Often these decisions force us to choose between the familiar and comfortable or between a new adventure or change that may seem scary at the time. Choosing to go abroad was one of those choices. I have really grown to believe that in these instances, choosing the path that pushes us out of our comfort zones, may be the most rewarding in the end. This experience has taught me so much about myself and about life outside my small world at home, and I couldn't be more happy I choose to do this.