Dreams that you dare to dream...

I have been reduced to tears (usually not my favorite thing but tonight I've decided to let it slide). I called Lizzy, so excited to tell someone who has both future dreams and a ridiculous past so similar to mine, all about my time here in Pennsylvania.

I'm staying with Becca, the girl who was randomly paired with me to be roommates our freshman year at Seton Hill University. An unlikely pair--we discovered after-the-fact that we'd both made fun of the other after hanging up from our first pre-semester phone call, so we were both obviously a bit apprehensive about meeting in person--but we very quickly became close friends. I've now met the two girls who were placed in Becca's room after I transferred schools for my junior year and they are incredible...generous, hilarious and some of the biggest-hearted people I know. As tough as it was to leave SHU, I'm glad I did because it was the right life choice for me and because Becca otherwise might not have gotten to meet these amazing women.

A few days ago, I got to spend time with Judith, my first college Spanish professor and the one who led me on my first trip to study abroad. From my first day in her class, she encouraged me in a way that no other teacher had before, inspiring me to learn everything I could and giving me the courage to take necessary risks. Under her guidance, I decided to go to Mexico, which (in large part, because of my host family, professors and classmates) changed my life completely. After that, it was two full semesters abroad in Mexico, two in Ohio and one in Italy. Then AmeriCorps for a year in Califoria, three years teaching English in South Korea and a year of backpacking through Peru and Brazil.

Fall 2015 and I'm in the U.S. for two weddings, a new niece and a visa renewal. Absolutely honored, I accepted Judith's invitation to speak to five of her Spanish and Italian classes about my travels. I found myself in Maura Hall, where I used to live, the cafeteria where I used to every day with my soccer teammates, Judith's same office where I visited her for academic advising, and sitting in the same classrooms and desks I'd sat in eight years before. This time, though, was different.

This time I was completely fluent in a language that I'd only been okay at the last time I was there. This time I knew so much more about the world and all the amazing opportunities available. This time I wasn't scared to talk in front of people or shy about introducing myself. This time I could prove that, if we actually follow the inspirational quotes we typically hear (and ignore), that dreams really do come true and that they're better than anything we can imagine. This time, finally, I was able to give something, small as it may be, back to this beautiful community.

Fresh out of high school and in my first semester of college, I hadn't yet truly discovered a single one of my dreams. I didn't know the opportunities that were available and the idea of a traveling sort of lifestyle had never occurred to me. I didn't know it was possible for a few years of work in Korea to pay for my entire four years of college and then some. I didn't know I could learn to surf and ski in Asia and to rock climb and practice capoeira in South America. I didn't know I could work in hostels or teach English in companies or at the Olympic Committee. I didn't know I could travel by myself and meet amazing people from all over the world, couch surfing, volunteering and working along my way.

Reflecting back on how much I've gotten to do in the past eight years was incredible and I was left tonight, bawling tears of happiness, pride and gratitude for each one of these years and each of the people who has helped me and inspired me along the way. I credit Becca for being there with me and helping me through it as my mind first started to open, a scary time for someone who had led a very sheltered life. Judith gave me the confidence and inspiration to study what I was passionate about, rather than what would give me the "best" career.

As small as today was in the grand scheme of things, it meant so much to me. Like the kid who sat next to me in my first Seton Hill Spanish class and suggested that I go on the Mexico trip...and like Judith who led me to discover and follow my dreams, I hope that I was able to encourage someone today, too. I hope the kids that were there who have even the smallest interest in studying/living/working/volunteering/backpacking/you-name-it abroad take that plunge that so many are too scared to take. At the risk of sounding egotistical, yet wanting to honestly experience and express all of these emotions, I feel proud of myself for following in Judith's footsteps: opening my mind, valuing education and traveling, sharing what I can with others, and encouraging anyone I can to follow their passions and discover what they were born to do.

Today I'm humbled by the smallness of my own existence and what I choose to do with my life and amazed and proud to be a part of something so much bigger--this life-long learning process and the chance to float through life, accepting and loving the ups and downs it hands me; this incredible experience of being human and being a part of the billions of beautiful and inspirational people that share this world.