cheers to new beginnings! 🥂

        Starting new things can be hard. Experiencing new things can be scary. Whether it's fear of the unknown, or anxiousness, it's sometimes an uneasy feeling starting something new. In my past experiences, I have learned to be optimistic, and to be my best self going into new things to get the full experience and the best time. 

   

     My family was born in Lebanon, which is a small country in the Middle East. They grew up there and moved to America to have kids and start their lives. My dad and his parents and siblings all came with their significant others, but my mom's family is still overseas, so we have a reason to visit. The first trip there was when I was two, so I don't remember anything except the stories my family members told me. Luckily, we went again when I was 16, so, a couple summers ago. The flight there is not one way, you have to stop in either France, or Kuwait. We traveled 18 hours, had a layover in Kuwait for 2 hours, then went on a 4 hour flight to Beirut, Lebanon. Considering the fact my mom's whole family is there and she hadn't seen them in 10+ years, the travel time being so long, and the plane tickets being expensive, we spent some time there. 8 weeks. "8 weeks?! Mom what? That's the whole summer," my brothers and I complained. We were going to miss out on events here at home, while missing our friends and family. As the time got closer, the anxious feelings starting kicking in. "What if something happens on the plane? What if something happens at home while we're across the world? What if we don't like it there?" I had to get rid of these thoughts. I should be feeling excited and grateful to be able to take this trip and see some of my family members for basically the first time. But why am I so nervous? I get a sense of relief knowing I'm not the only person who gets nervous before anything new. We're human, it'd be kind of weird to not be feeling those emotions. Overall, I had an amazing time in Lebanon visiting my family. Seeing different parts of the world, especially a third world country, really humbled me entirely. I learned a lot about the country, and about my family and their lifestyle. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to have gone when I did, especially now since COVID has broken out, there's no telling the next time our trip will be. 

    This new experience of traveling overseas and adapting to a new lifestyle for 2 months was a little nerve-wracking at first, but after some getting used to, I honestly found joy and happiness in my time there. I have these same feelings and hopes for this school year. I'm a transfer student so I'm new to PNW, and actual "campus life." It's hard using Brightspace and maneuvering around campus without getting lost. It's stressful taking on courses that I know I need to succeed in. But, with an optimistic mindset and confidence in myself, I know that I will succeed and enjoy this new chapter of my life: college. This class specifically, is already bringing me some ease and reassurance. I have high hopes for this semester and looking forward to having a great time that I know will be worth it in the end.