The hardest part of growing up is following your dreams and not the expectations others have set for you. I want so much for myself, but because it isn't what my friends and family want for me and I am called a fool for striving for my dreams. My heart is not in the states, but my friends and family are. To them, I am meant to be in the states because they are here. I applied to the Peace Corps yesterday and I heard the same thing over and over from those I told, "Why would you do that?"
There is nothing harder than following a dream that your friends and family do not support. All my life I have sought support from those I love. They give it to me when it is something they want me to do. Leaving for two years is going to be the hardest thing I've ever done. Not talking to my friends and family for months, being in a place where no one knows me, where no one shares my memories, where there are no inside jokes, where there are no comforting hugs from an old friend or an Auntie, where I am going to miss out on family reunions, weddings, funerals, and just random good times with old friends, college friends, and cousins.
But this is going to be so strengthening for me, so healing, so empowering. I get the chance to serve those who need to be loved, need to be held, need to be educated. I get to live among another culture for two years, learn their traditions, and most of all, I get to learn there hearts. I get to help a village strive for the resources they need in order to better their community. This is a once in a life time opportunity that i just can't pass up for lack of support from those I love. My life is going to change for the better. Please be happy for me and please try to learn to support me in this.