Anticipation!
First, I want to thank anyone who visits my blog as well as a special thanks for anyone who decides to make a contribution towards my overseas excursion!
Slowly but surely pieces are beginning to fall into place making this dream one step closer to a reality. Last week I was notified by email that BCA had accepted me into their program! For more info on BCA and some reasons why I chose Greece, take a look for yourself at http://www.bcaabroad.com/. Currently, I am in the process of filling out the proper paperwork for my passport which will take roughly 6 weeks to arrive! As you're probably already aware of, fees are associated with obtaining a passport and Visa. $100 for the passport & $75 for the Visa. The hopes of trying to squeeze these seemingly inexpensive fees into my budget is similar to the hopes of the New Jersey Nets making the playoffs this year, its not happening. Now I can say my future chances are greater than that of the Nets. My hope is in you guys, friends and family, their slim "hope" is in the hands of next years NBA Draft Lottery and landing Mr. John Wall from Kentucky in New Jersey or if Jay-Z (co-owner of the Nets) has his way, they'll be in Brooklyn sometime soon. The "Brooklyn Nets", yea it doesn't even sound good but I'm sure Jay-Z could make a rap about it and a 12th number one album.
Anticpation, eagerness, expectations, uncertainty, enthusiasm, hope, belief. These are all the mixed emotions I feel right now, awaiting my turn to experience and explore the world. Patiently waiting for my opportunity to tackle a lot of "firsts". The foremost of these "firsts", flying on a plane! I'm 19 (20 on April 25th) and this has yet to happen! Although, I can't say my favorite part will be airport security as I have been forewarned. I plan on stepping foot off the plane and diving head first into Athens, exploring and connecting with people of the community. I want to connect with local students quickly, who can assist me in finding student organizations or volunteer work away from campus. Once I take these initial steps and appreciate the multicultural work environment, doors will open on the professional side! I will hopefully meet with professionals in the business world, who wouldn’t mind sharing wisdom with an enthusiastic business major. Before jetting off to Greece, I’ll get my resume in tip-top shape to share with employers in Athens, improving the likeliness of acquiring the professional international experience I hope to grasp! Greece is currently going through a tough economic period due to policy elites who pushed Europe into adopting a single currency before the continent was ready. This is a real life situation I could learn from while overseas and use to complement a major in economics.
As a first-generation college student, this is my chance to set a new path for the cousins, nieces and nephews, brothers and sisters of generations to come in my family. Let this be the experience that gets them to challenge the question, "if he could do it, why not me?!"
Once again a big THANK YOU for all your thoughts, prayers, and ANY financial donations towards my overseas studies! This definitely would not be made possible without your support :)
"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity." - 1 Timothy 4:12
