Samuel Garcia, NUS Exchange, Fall 2014
When I first though about writing this post, I titled it “Back to Reality” in my head. But I realized that is not accurate, because I never left reality, I was just living in another one on the other side of the world.
Apart from the two weeks during which I crammed for exams, at the National University of Singapore I was free from the usual stress of university life. I had time not only to travel, but time for myself. Time to go to the gym more, practice music more, and reflect on my life. While I missed the motivation I have here at Northwestern, I was happier with more time for me.
Now I am back, and everything at Northwestern seems to be the same. The same friends, similar activities, similar classes. I remember walking down the street during my first week back and feeling the weight of all the memories this place already carries for me. But I have changed.
It has been hard settling back into this old environment after so much time away. As a dual degree student, I am accustomed to filling my credit load to the max, and working very very hard to get through it all. While I liked the work I was doing, I was constantly in a state of stress and sleep deprivation, to the degree that I didn’t even know I was sleep deprived anymore. Having three cups of coffee to get through the day was normal to me.
After being abroad, I have realized I no longer want to live that life. Yes, I want to be involved and work hard and pursue my dreams, but not to the point where stress takes over. I am much happier in day to day life if I do a little less, and leave more time for me.
With that attitude, Northwestern has changed for me. It is no longer a place where I stay in the library until it closes and get up five hours later for my morning class. It is a place where I have time to go running, come home and cook dinner, sometimes even go to sleep before midnight.
While many people around me are still constantly running from class to meeting to rehearsal, I am trying to remember that my new attitude does not make me a failure. It makes me happier and healthier.
I look forward to returning to South East Asia, visiting my friends, and going on my next adventure. In the mean time, it is actually relieving to not be getting on a plane every other weekend.
Reunited with some of my best friends