The beauty that life has to offer is completely infinite. I never thought life would be this colorful until I started letting go of my fears and worries. It has taken me years and years of hard work to be able to start letting go. I’m finally able to start enjoying my travels with the thought that I can be me, without having to wonder if that’s acceptable to everyone else.

The journey of self-acceptance has been a long one, and it is not over. If I am being completely honest and raw here, I don’t believe I will ever fully accept myself. However, I have stepped back and realized that I have been waking up in the morning with excitement, not worries or pain. I look back at where I was, even just a few months ago, and see how much progress I’ve made, which is way more than I initially believed.  Looking at some older pictures of myself, I can see the pain in my eyes. Only I knew everything I was going through in my mind.

I chose to study abroad for numerous reasons, the first being the amazing experiences it will provide. More importantly, I knew it would be good for me mentally, to let myself be at peace for awhile and to let myself breathe. I’m so incredibly happy I did, too. I have given myself the precious gift of happiness grasped in my own hands, not by the hands of acceptance from others.

Learning about the different cultures has been an eye-opener as well. It’s wonderful to see the individuality in each country as well as each person. There have definitely been some people who have tested my confidence in myself, but I appreciate these people because they are able to show me how minor some people’s opinions can be in my own personal life. Do not get me wrong, I hold some people’s opinions in high regard. Nevertheless, it is important to take some with a grain of salt.

In the end, I have finally been able to see myself as a stronger person. Each mistake I make is a lesson. With each person I meet, there’s a story. I am able to take a step back and look at where I have been and how far I have come. I thank God every day I make progress. I thank the people I have in my life for supporting me in the opportunities I have been given. Life has been given a whole new palette of colors and I intend to bask in each one.