Being an au pair for my triplets |
Speaking of
books, make your life a story worth telling. How I see it, unless you are
hurting someone else, you are entitled to make any decisions you want. If you
want to travel, like I do, figure out a way to do so. I don’t come from a family with
endless resources, but I figured out ways to achieve what I wanted to do. As a 19
year old I participated in an au pair program so I could travel to and live in
the US for a while. When you are an au pair you provide childcare for a family
as a live in nanny. What I gained was a lot of experience being immersed in a
culture apart from my own and I became more independent. I also gained an extra
family. I love them and they love me, unconditionally. Was I scared to leave my
hometown with one stoplight and care for 9 year old triplets halfway around
the world? You bet.
Sydney - working for my beloved Four Points |
I am very
proud of my formal education, but also my personal and professional experiences.
I can honestly say I have learned something valuable from all of my previous
jobs. I tend to live my life one adventure after another, but have I at times
been scared of changing course in my life? Yes, very much so. But I would still say dare to take a leap of faith. And if something doesn’t work out, don’t be afraid to
change the course of your life and do something else. Be smart about finances, but don’t sit
and wait for the perfect time to do something, because you may be sitting on
the fence forever!
So if graduation
time is scary for you or if you are reading this and contemplating a life change of some sort and feel nervous, I understand. But change is inevitable and it’s better
to embrace it. When thinking back to when I graduated High School and what I
wanted out of life, I am thinking of who I looked up to. It was not millionaires
and celebrities. The people I looked up to were some friends, they were older
than me, and they had traveled the world. That’s what I was aiming for. And
here I am. I have been fortunate to have traveled to some amazing places.
So
search your heart of what is important to you and follow it. Just be respectful
to others while doing so. And traveling may not be what you wish to do. Someone
once told me: “You know Laholm (my hometown with one stoplight) is also part of
the world, right?” hinting to the fact that I was so keen on seeing everything else
in the world that I at times forgot my immediate surroundings. So perhaps you
can’t take a year off and hit the road with a backpack. And maybe you don’t
have the desire to. But maybe you can
explore the area you are in right now and see what excites you? Maybe you can
make a living out of it? My point is, whatever you choose to do, make your life story one worth telling! Don't let fear get in your way!
Congrats class of 2014! You did it!
Congrats class of 2014! You did it!
So true and so well written Emma! Good on you as they say down under!
ReplyDeleteIngalill, oh I love seeing "good on you"! Its bringing back so many memories! And as for the people I looked up to, its your kidsI am referring to :)
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