By deciding to study abroad you've already decided to branch out of your comfort zone so I applaud you on that! However, while abroad I suggest that you take the chance to branch out of comfort zone even more and to try new things! (All safe things now!) And it all starts with putting yourself out there. I understand that it can be intimidating but you never know what you could gain from taking a chance. I've been in Singapore for almost one month now and by just branching out of my comfort zone I've gained so much! Friends Two weeks ago I went to Marina Bay Sands area to watch the National Day Fireworks with a few friends (Photos can be found in the Gallery tab). That day, I knew I wanted to watch the fireworks but I didn't have any friends to go with. The day prior, I attended a coffee chat hosted by the NUS Peer Advisers and got put into a group of other exchange students. Our leader was a local Singaporean and made a Facebook group chat for him to contact us. So on the day of National Day, a girl who wasn't able to attend the coffee chat but was part of our group messaged the group chat and asked if anyone wanted to go and see the fireworks with her. I've never met people through social media and was a bit nervous to just hang out with someone I haven't met before but I decided to give it a try. So I asked her if I could come along with her and she was very friendly and welcoming. An hour before going to meet her I felt nervous, intimidated and thought "What if she doesn't like me?" "I don't need to go out, I could just stay home and video chat with my boyfriend" I was going to cancel, but then a different thought floated into my mind "What do I have to lose and what do I have to gain?". I really had nothing to lose, I would most likely just stay in my room, not go to see the fireworks and miss out on an opportunity to see an event that occurs once a year in Singapore. However, I could gain a friend and witness something new and possibly once in a lifetime. So weighing my options I decided to go and was surprised to see that the girl, Thao, had two other friends with her, her boyfriend Richard and a girl named Alisha. Alisha and I became really good friends and later she introduced me to her friend Erin and now a few weeks later, the two of them are my closest friends here! I also still hang out with Thao and Richard as well, and I would've never met any of them if I hadn't put myself out there. I think about that decision often because if I hadn't taken that chance I would've never met the friends and have the memories that I have today. Activities In the past few months I've become very interested in acting, singing and dancing. I don't have much experience in any of those arts but am just interested in learning more, so I decided to put myself out there and try to get involved in the various art activities/clubs NUS offers. I took advantage of this opportunity and auditioned for the NUS Choir, Resonance (Acapella Group), Dance Ensemble and Stage (Theater Club). Although all the experiences were intimidating, and some even embarrassing, I'm so glad I had the opportunity to try out all of those different activities because I made a few friends on the way! I also took the chance to join the NUS Judo Club and since I did judo in high school the team has allowed me to practice with the senior class. So now a few weeks into school I'm proud to say that I am a part of NUS Stage, NUS Judo Club and am taking Jazz Dance classes offered by the NUS Center of Arts, a class specifically for students who always wanted to learn about the art but never had the chance (that's me!). I'm so thankful I branched out of my comfort zone and have been able to get involved in extra curricular activities at NUS. I hope to continue these activities when I return to UH. Nus Stage! This photo was taken after our first acting class. I truly hope that if you're going on exchange, you take the chance to branch out of your comfort zone because you'll never know what you could gain and how much you could grow! (Branches and growing? Get it?! :D)
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About MeMy name is Jackie Agena and I am a junior at the at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. I am full time student majoring in Management Information Systems and Finance. Categories
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November 2017
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