A Different World on My Own
Another learning Experience was when I traveled to Paris, France with 14 other Regent’s Scholar Students through Texas A&M University. There, I did not have my mother by my side while exploring the other side of the world. However, I learned the importance of keeping calm in an unfamiliar place as well as the importance of learning how to read a map and work "the metro". Exploring Paris with other students who were my age and truly had no idea where to go made this trip so much better. I realized it is okay to not always know what to do or where to go because those are the times when you experience the most exciting events and learn so much more about yourself. In Paris I had no idea how to work the metro and although it seemed complicated, after some mentoring from our supervisor, I was able to lead our group to wherever we wanted to go. Not knowing where to eat was exciting because we would ask around for recommendations and ended up in the most delicious restaurants in Paris! I even learned to communicate my very little French with Parisians and made new Parisians Friends. This experience was truly exciting and rewarding for my personal growth. Now, whenever I face a task that is unclear I don’t panic. I am able to take an unknown situation and analyze it step by step. I also am able to take risks into the unknown because I urge to know what I can gain and discover about others and myself. Because of this experience I learned that sometimes opportunities are risks that you have to take to be willing to grow and learn. Because of this realization, I have decided to move to Dallas, TX for my full-time position in the Finance, Accounting, and Operations ACCESS program with Texas Instruments. Moving to Dallas means that I will be moving 9 hours away from home, McAllen, TX. Doing this is something that not many people from McAllen tend to do because they fear the unknown. Already living here in College Station, TX, where I am studying for my Bachelor's in Supply Chain Management, has been a big step for me. Now, I am comfortable because I know my way around the city and have friends in College Station. In Dallas however, I don't have family or friends residing there and I can honestly say that I would have had a much more difficult time making this decision if it wasn't for realizing the benefits of being on my own in the unknown. Taking the experience of living in Europe and not having family members, and not speaking French fluently has, to some extent, prepared me to live in Dallas, TX. I am ready to get around the city through public transportation, just like I learned to get around in Paris using the Metro. I am also ready to learn the numerous highways to drive myself to places. I am prepared to explore Dallas, and explore Texas Instruments. I am excited for taking the decision to live on my own and challenge myself to practice my career at Texas Instruments.