The Final Countdown

The day has finally come. I can hardly sleep because I am so full of excitement and nervousness. I have been looking forward to this trip since I was accepted into the Ivy League Connection program and I can't  wait to get to Rhode Island and see Brown for the very first time.

Even though I have learned so much about the program already from past ILC alums, my chaperone, and through research I feel as if I will still be shocked with what I encounter. It will be amazing to live on a college campus for two weeks and take on responsibilities that I am not used to in my typical life. Living in dorms with a roommate will be a new experience for me and I am sure it will teach me so much and living with my peers will be a lot of fun.

I am also really looking forward to spending time on the east coast and getting a feel for the lifestyle there. I have only ever know life in the Bay Area and this program is a great way to expand my horizons. I will surely meet people from all over the world with all different opinions.

All Packed and Ready To Go 

Not only have I had weeks of emotion anticipation but also lots of work. It tends to be very foggy at my house so I don't have a lot of clothes appropriate for  warm weather. Considering that Providence is expected to be very hot and humid this could have been a big problem. Luckily I was able to get a few clothing items that will make it much more bearable to stand the heat. I spent the last two days in a jumbled mess packing and repacking my suitcase in order to make sure I didn't forget anything. I finally realized that I was all good and that I just needed to zip up my suitcase, put it off to the side, and try not to worry so much. 

  

I know that I wouldn’t have gotten to this point if it wasn’t for the encouragement of my parents throughout the whole ILC process. This is my first time being away from home for two weeks and I know that I will miss my family and friends although I am sure that I will have lots of support from my cohort and make lots of new friends. It will certainly be full of learning and overcoming challenges. I can’t wait for all the new experiences and new knowledge that I will gain.