This is me:
Life in Nepal has been more than I’ve ever dreamed it would be. I don’t really have words to describe how thankful I am that I had this experience, that the Fulbright officials me a shot, that my friends and family supported me, and that in the process, I got a whole new family out of it.
I’ve been home in the US for a few weeks now. I kept that news quiet for a while, because I was afraid I would get overwhelmed. And I do feel overwhelmed sometimes. I feel overwhelmed when I talk to my beloved host mom and sisters on the phone, I feel overwhelmed when I’m standing in the middle of a grocery store aisle, and I feel overwhelmed when I think that I might not get another experience like this.
I once asked a mentor why I seem to be the only one that doesn’t have a clue what I want to devote the next 40 years of my life to. He replied that no one really knows what they want to do and–more importantly–I actually do know what I want to do. I want to work for women’s rights; I want to continue my work with the young women of Nepal.
A year ago, I started to realize how the lack of adequate healthcare affects my girls. The many issues they face–menstrual seclusion, high suicide rates, early childhood marriage–could all be greatly impacted with better access to knowledgeable, compassionate healthcare. I started volunteering at the local health clinic. I decided to explore being a physician.
So now I’m in Philadelphia, getting my pre-reqs and possibly going to med school in the not-so-distant future.
No matter what’s in the cards, I always want to be an outspoken advocate and unwavering supporter of those girls on that beautiful, remote mountain.
Related Posts
