Maeva i te Ora//Welcome to Life
During the summer of 2012, myself and 24 other students from the University of Washington, traveled to the French Polynesia with staff members from the Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity for one month. In our time there, we were challenged physically, mentally and emotionally with day-to-day adventures jumping off cliffs and swimming with sharks, to class discussions where we were encouraged to reflect on our identity and lives. My time there exposed me to not only another beautiful culture, but to another side of myself that I hadn’t discovered yet.
My short time in the French Polynesia gave me many things, but mainly the permission I needed to start living my life the way I wanted to. I feel that before my time there, many of the things I agreed to do, I did more for others than for myself. By allowing myself to say no and yes when I truly wanted to, I gave myself the gift of introspection, which led me to discover what I was most passionate about: connecting the values of education in the Pacific to academia.
My short time in the French Polynesia gave me many things, but mainly the permission I needed to start living my life the way I wanted to. I feel that before my time there, many of the things I agreed to do, I did more for others than for myself. By allowing myself to say no and yes when I truly wanted to, I gave myself the gift of introspection, which led me to discover what I was most passionate about: connecting the values of education in the Pacific to academia.
Tasks accomplished:
Leadership Capacities Gained
- Being submerged into a new culture with an open mind and heart.
- Opening up, maintaining respect and ultimately, building relationships with a new group of people.
- Critically reading and discussing in class.
Leadership Capacities Gained
- Knowledge: Understanding of personal values, motivations, passions, purpose, and ethics, which guide ones behavior
- Attitude: Willingness to take risks
- Attitude: Zest or passion for life
- Skills - Organizational: Able to build community and bring people together
- Skills - Transitional Development: Develop relationships with mentors
- Behavior: Push oneself beyond their comfort zone
What I gained from studying abroad has overflown into all aspects from my life and taught me things about myself that I will treasure for my entire life. The kindness and selflessness I found within myself abroad, as well as the courage to inexcusably be myself in all aspects of my life, are characteristics that will apply to everything I do. Specifically for my academic goals, by giving myself permission to mess up and make mistakes now, I hope to come into my future Ph.D. program more stable and resilient – emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually.