My last day in London was pretty bizarre. I photographed the President of the United States at work, I had one of the most extravagant milkshakes of my life (topped with a face-sized cookie and a blow-torched marshmallow), and I said goodbye to some really amazing coworkers and friends. I guess now that I’m typing it all out, it doesn’t sound so “bizarre”. I mean it wasn’t as if I went to the “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” in Piccadilly Circus?
No, I think the strangeness of the day came from the realization that it was that specific day, April 22nd 2016 that ended my study abroad experience. I never would have believed that my last day in London would consist of being the POTUS photographer, consuming my weight in ice cream and milk, and saying goodbye to people I didn’t even know 4 months ago. It was a weird feeling, but please don’t think I’m getting emotional. While I loved every minute of my time in London, I knew it eventually had to come to an end. Every one of us who studied abroad had to wake up to reality at some point.
Besides, I have so much to be grateful for from this experience. I grew professionally from my internship and personally from my coworkers at Grosvenor House, a JW Marriott Hotel. The sites I’ve seen, performances I’ve watched, and the food I’ve tasted all contributed to my study abroad adventure. I visited beautiful countries and developed a few British mannerisms. Finally, the friends that I’ve made and the memories we made together all translate into one of the best experiences of my life and I plan on using all of them, the good and the bad, to find further success in the future.
So no, I don’t “miss” London. I think I’ve gotten everything out of my time there that I possibly could. I also do not consider myself a “Londoner” and no one who studies abroad in London for 3 months ever should; in reality we know much less about the global financial center with 10 million people than most of us would care to admit. But I’m not concerned with what’s in the past. I’m looking forward.
I have honed two very important concepts while abroad that I plan to capitalize on during the rest of my time in university: passion and confidence. I have rediscovered and affirmed my passion for hospitality; that is the industry that I will enter and I will do everything in my power to prepare myself for a career in hospitality. With regards to confidence, I’ve never been more confident in my abilities and my goals since studying abroad. I now know what I want and I will not be afraid to do what it takes to go out and take it for myself. Both of these ideas have empowered me to pursue big dreams back in the states, and I will not be backing down until I achieve success.
Stay tuned for more developments from my site, as I try to refocus and reorganize my brand.
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