Only Hours Remain

I sit here at the dining table, finishing up tonight's dinner with my family. Before I get the chance to bring up the subject, my dad already begins to talk about this trip. I'm actually glad. It renews a sense of scholarship, perseverance, exploration, and mission. It makes me think of my experience last year with the Ivy League Connection at Brown University and all the challenges I had to overcome. The learning experience was invaluable and it makes me look forward to my cohort and my trip to the South this year!

Task 1: Iron some shirts

My experience at Brown University last year set the ball rolling for anything and everything that is yet to come this summer and beyond. I’m approaching my senior year of high school and that means I will hopefully be having the opportunity to beginning a part of life that I will be one of the first in my family to embark on. I don’t know exactly what will happen, but what I do know is that there is much out there in the world to do, and embarking on this trip is part of it all.

Besides the course itself, which encompasses many of the things I’ve grown to care about—especially living in an underprivileged area—this trip has tons to offer. I’ll finally be able to meet up and get to know with my cohort (Hummd, Gwennie, Katherine, and our awesome chaperon, Jenny) better and will be able to spend quality time together with all the adventures and memories we have yet to make. To say the least, this is truly a life enhancing experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything, and I’m grateful for this and every other accomplishment I have worked for, and I can’t be thankful enough for having an organization that opens the doors for opportunities.

With my family’s support and motivational words tonight, I feel blessed and humbled to be able to do something like this—the nature of it itself shoots a chilling feel of electricity up my arms. I can’t think of any other reason to be happy about getting up at 3 AM.

Thinking about how I'm going to pack some final things... hmm

Today, my final day before leaving, I sit at the dining table finishing up my lunch. Especially because I woke up earlier to run some errands, I find some laziness wanting to kick in. For the most part, everything is low key today. Nevertheless, I’ll be finishing up on those tasks first and then I’ll have the rest of the day and night to chill before waking up to an awakening night. Only hours remain before we get to actually do this. I’m excited.