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| Cassie (with Mel in background) |
After
we landed back in the states I took the next couple of days easy. My first
night back I had some of my closest family members over for dinner which I
later realized I should have given myself a few days but it was still really
nice to see them. The first couple days I took really easy. I kept myself busy
but nothing that would have tired me out. And after 6 days in Connecticut I was
on my way to the little Island I call home to start work again. Everyone on the
island was so excited to hear about my trip. All the locals still constantly
have a new question to ask me every day. The days at work rolled into one another
and before you know it I was sitting in my cap and gown waiting to get my
diploma cover, since the diploma makes it in the mail a few months later. And
with the switch of a yellow tassel I was officially UConn alumni. Some have wondered why I would study abroad
my last semester of college, I think people are crazy not to see why not, and
if I had to do it all again I would. Without a doubt this semester has been the
most rewarding, most fun, crazy, best college experience I could have ever
asked for.
After
graduation I was on the hunt for apartments for my first semester of grad
school, which ended up being way more stressful than it needed to be! But the
pieces are finally coming together. I’m actually getting really excited to
start something new even though I anticipate school being a lot of work.
I
had a graduation party with almost all of my family there. It was so great to
see all 40+ of them! I also got to catch up with my cousin who had just gotten
back from his military duties when we were about to leave for South Africa so
that was really nice to catch up with him.
Between
work and seeing my family I have had to talk about my trip a lot. People who
only want to hear just the surface things like, “oh yeah it was so fun and
beautiful” have been the easy ones. Most people who ask questions that require
a more personal answer don’t actually want to hear what I have to say. And it
has gotten pretty frustrating at times. I have spoken with a few people who
really were interested and so open to hear what I had to say and they were
actually about to carry on an accurate conversation about topics like race and
poverty. Those conversations were a relief to me. It’s more difficult to find
people that understand more than their little bubble they live in here in the
states. Although I can’t blame those who don’t know too much since I used to stand
in similar shoes. And I still have a long way to go and a lot to learn, and
hopefully I will continue and find my own way to make a difference in this
world. I haven’t quite figured out how I’ll do that but I know there must be
something that I can put this energy towards.
For now I’ll carry on doing what I can until I find a true passion where
I can really help.
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