Awkwardly Introverted

I’ve been home since Monday. Back to my bed, my routine, my life in the States. And yet… I can’t stop thinking about Europe. 🌍✈️ There’s just something about it — the energy, the history, the food (yes, I had  schnitzel  🥩 and  pork knuckle  🍖, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat). Every country has its own rhythm, its own soul. But  Poland ? Poland surprised me. 💫 I know what some people think when they hear “Poland” — the haunting shadow of Hitler, the Soviet-era buildings that still stand like gray reminders 🏢, the cold, the history. But that’s only part of the story. What I saw, what I  felt , was different. Poland is beautiful. 🇵🇱 It’s layered, resilient, and full of quiet strength. I walked through Warsaw and Kraków with a sense of awe — not just at the architecture or the food, but at how it made me feel. Safe. Comfortable. Curious. Alive. And more than anything,  seen . 👀❤️ Yes, some of those apartment blocks are hideous concrete slabs (...

Life has a funny way of keeping me on my toes. One moment, I’m looking at an inspirational quote, telling myself to push harder because no one else will do it for me. 💪🏾 The next, I’m staring out the window like a tragic main character—except with a clown nose, questioning all my life choices. 🤡😩 The first image is all about motivation. It’s that tough-love reminder that if I want something, I have to go after it myself. No shortcuts, no handouts—just effort, discipline, and perseverance. 🚀 But then, there's that old Bitmoji of me, dramatically staring out a window, fully embracing the reality that sometimes, no matter how hard I try, life just feels like one big joke. 🤦🏾‍♀️ Balancing Drive with Humor 😆 I get it—pushing forward is important. If I don’t hold myself accountable, who will? But at the same time, I’ve learned that taking myself too seriously is a fast track to burnout. Sometimes, I just have to laugh at the ridiculousness of it all, even if that means accepting ...

(Absolutely, I’m aware of the thrilling mix-ups on the passport! Lol! 😂🤷🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️)  WOW, what a year it has been! I can’t even begin to describe the joy and pride I feel right now. Despite a few bumps in the road (looking at you, math class 🙄), this year has been one for the books—and 2025 is shaping up to be even more incredible! First, let me share the highlight of my year: I got a FULL SCHOLARSHIP to study abroad in Berlin, Germany, Warsaw, Poland, and Prague, Czech Republic! Yes, you read that right—I’m going to spend 12 amazing days learning about the Holocaust in person, standing in the very places where history happened. This is the kind of opportunity that changes lives, and I’m so grateful and excited to be part of it. I never thought I’d get to experience something like this, and now it’s happening! And that’s not all—I passed 4 of my exams this semester! While I do have to retake math next semester (ugh, math, why are you like this?), I’m not letting it bring me do...

  There’s something about sitting by the water that quiets the mind and soothes the soul. The gentle ripples, the soft light—it all creates a space to simply  be . Hours into my time by the water, I was already immersed in its calming effect, feeling grateful for the peace that surrounded me. But, as often happens, tranquility can be fleeting. Just as I was fully embracing the stillness, a group of loud voices arrived, yelling at the top of their lungs about... well, you can imagine. The noise shattered the calm, reminding me how fragile peace can be when others bring chaos with them. Earlier in the day, I had felt the weight of an early class and the exhaustion from moving between distant buildings. It had already been a busy day, but that moment by the water was my chance to unwind and reflect. I had hoped for a quiet escape, and for a while, I got it. It’s in moments like these that I think about labels—specifically, the label of being an "introvert." It’s a word that fits...