it all started back in July 22nd 2010 there was standing in front of the
there was standing in front of the
there was standing in front of the Science Building at st. Peter school
Science Building at st. Peter school
Science Building at st. Peter school Cambridge New Zealand it didn’t really
Cambridge New Zealand it didn’t really
Cambridge New Zealand it didn’t really hit me until then but I’m actually
hit me until then but I’m actually
hit me until then but I’m actually studying abroad I went to the classroom
studying abroad I went to the classroom
studying abroad I went to the classroom I have my first L school in a brand new
I have my first L school in a brand new
I have my first L school in a brand new country and then that’s when I first
country and then that’s when I first
country and then that’s when I first lesson reality and expectations most
lesson reality and expectations most
lesson reality and expectations most likely won’t be the same most 99% of the
likely won’t be the same most 99% of the
likely won’t be the same most 99% of the time before I went to New Zealand I had
time before I went to New Zealand I had
time before I went to New Zealand I had great expectations myself like any other
great expectations myself like any other
great expectations myself like any other teenage girl my 15 year old self thought
teenage girl my 15 year old self thought
teenage girl my 15 year old self thought to myself well I’m gonna be the most
to myself well I’m gonna be the most
to myself well I’m gonna be the most popular school girl at school I’m going
popular school girl at school I’m going
popular school girl at school I’m going to become one of the cool kids
to become one of the cool kids
to become one of the cool kids everyone’s gonna about coming with open
everyone’s gonna about coming with open
everyone’s gonna about coming with open arms worship me like the goddess I am
arms worship me like the goddess I am
arms worship me like the goddess I am that didn’t happen
that didn’t happen
that didn’t happen not saying you’re not nice I had
not saying you’re not nice I had
not saying you’re not nice I had unrealistic expectations and that made
unrealistic expectations and that made
unrealistic expectations and that made me very very sad
me very very sad
me very very sad I was completely miserable for the next
I was completely miserable for the next
I was completely miserable for the next couple weeks I called my mother every
couple weeks I called my mother every
couple weeks I called my mother every single night crying to her complaining
single night crying to her complaining
single night crying to her complaining to her that I felt completely lonely and
to her that I felt completely lonely and
to her that I felt completely lonely and out of place at a foreign country
out of place at a foreign country
out of place at a foreign country speaking a language that wasn’t my
speaking a language that wasn’t my
speaking a language that wasn’t my native tongue so that one out for a
native tongue so that one out for a
native tongue so that one out for a while until one day she finally had had
while until one day she finally had had
while until one day she finally had had enough of me
enough of me
enough of me she said Lily if we’re so happy in New
she said Lily if we’re so happy in New
she said Lily if we’re so happy in New Zealand why don’t you come home to your
Zealand why don’t you come home to your
Zealand why don’t you come home to your back to your friends and family where
back to your friends and family where
back to your friends and family where you’re completely comfortable so you
you’re completely comfortable so you
you’re completely comfortable so you don’t call me every night and cry
don’t call me every night and cry
don’t call me every night and cry I said no mother I immediately rejected
I said no mother I immediately rejected
I said no mother I immediately rejected her proposal dead already a for my
her proposal dead already a for my
her proposal dead already a for my tuition and that’s a pretty large sum
tuition and that’s a pretty large sum
tuition and that’s a pretty large sum and I can’t let his money go to waste
and I can’t let his money go to waste
and I can’t let his money go to waste that was like the econ business per se I
that was like the econ business per se I
that was like the econ business per se I mean talking like money paid money needs
mean talking like money paid money needs
mean talking like money paid money needs to be spent so she was like okay well
to be spent so she was like okay well
to be spent so she was like okay well let me tell you something you have three
let me tell you something you have three
let me tell you something you have three more years in New Zealand
more years in New Zealand
more years in New Zealand your sophomore junior and senior year
your sophomore junior and senior year
your sophomore junior and senior year you can either spend every day being as
you can either spend every day being as
you can either spend every day being as miserable as you are right now crying to
miserable as you are right now crying to
miserable as you are right now crying to me every night for hours or you can
me every night for hours or you can
me every night for hours or you can really
really
really stick up to the situation and actually
stick up to the situation and actually
stick up to the situation and actually make your the most of your time in New
make your the most of your time in New
make your the most of your time in New Zealand not everyone is as lucky as you
Zealand not everyone is as lucky as you
Zealand not everyone is as lucky as you to have the resources to go abroad and
to have the resources to go abroad and
to have the resources to go abroad and that was like lettuce lettuce sure
that was like lettuce lettuce sure
that was like lettuce lettuce sure mother I think about that
mother I think about that
mother I think about that so I got a photo with her I said they’re
so I got a photo with her I said they’re
so I got a photo with her I said they’re still you know Tyrians trying to look in
still you know Tyrians trying to look in
still you know Tyrians trying to look in the mirrors to make sure I’m not a good
the mirrors to make sure I’m not a good
the mirrors to make sure I’m not a good Christ
Christ
Christ giveaway cry with style and pass like I
giveaway cry with style and pass like I
giveaway cry with style and pass like I always do and then I decided that she’s
always do and then I decided that she’s
always do and then I decided that she’s completely right
completely right
completely right I can either spend a thousand of
I can either spend a thousand of
I can either spend a thousand of something days that’s three years I did
something days that’s three years I did
something days that’s three years I did my math a thousand something days
my math a thousand something days
my math a thousand something days completely miserable well I can actually
completely miserable well I can actually
completely miserable well I can actually turn the situation around and make
turn the situation around and make
turn the situation around and make myself happier so instead of trying to
myself happier so instead of trying to
myself happier so instead of trying to force my expectations to be equivalent
force my expectations to be equivalent
force my expectations to be equivalent to the reality which is not going to be
to the reality which is not going to be
to the reality which is not going to be the case I can manage my expectations
the case I can manage my expectations
the case I can manage my expectations and actually face reality and that’s how
and actually face reality and that’s how
and actually face reality and that’s how I learned my second lesson the whole
I learned my second lesson the whole
I learned my second lesson the whole concept comfort zone stress own
concept comfort zone stress own
concept comfort zone stress own impending zone was a great idea that I
impending zone was a great idea that I
impending zone was a great idea that I learned when I was abroad in Germany
learned when I was abroad in Germany
learned when I was abroad in Germany last spring I took a class in leadership
last spring I took a class in leadership
last spring I took a class in leadership across culture thinking that open
across culture thinking that open
across culture thinking that open beneficial for my international business
beneficial for my international business
beneficial for my international business and this concept really stuck out to me
and this concept really stuck out to me
and this concept really stuck out to me basically what the comfort zone stress
basically what the comfort zone stress
basically what the comfort zone stress don’t panic zone theory suggests that as
don’t panic zone theory suggests that as
don’t panic zone theory suggests that as human beings we all have three zones
human beings we all have three zones
human beings we all have three zones around us comfort zone is what’s closest
around us comfort zone is what’s closest
around us comfort zone is what’s closest to us and I’m sure all of you are quite
to us and I’m sure all of you are quite
to us and I’m sure all of you are quite familiar with an idea of what comfort
familiar with an idea of what comfort
familiar with an idea of what comfort zone you’re completely comfortable
zone you’re completely comfortable
zone you’re completely comfortable you’re completely comfortable in it
you’re completely comfortable in it
you’re completely comfortable in it you’re happy you don’t want to do
you’re happy you don’t want to do
you’re happy you don’t want to do anything else that will change your
anything else that will change your
anything else that will change your comfortable staked
comfortable staked
comfortable staked however because you’re so happy because
however because you’re so happy because
however because you’re so happy because we’re so complacent in this comfort zone
we’re so complacent in this comfort zone
we’re so complacent in this comfort zone you’re not challenged and when you’re
you’re not challenged and when you’re
you’re not challenged and when you’re not challenged you don’t grow
not challenged you don’t grow
not challenged you don’t grow you don’t learn that’s why I encourage
you don’t learn that’s why I encourage
you don’t learn that’s why I encourage you guys to break through into your
you guys to break through into your
you guys to break through into your Cheston that’s where your colour or kind
Cheston that’s where your colour or kind
Cheston that’s where your colour or kind of boy your stress because you’re being
of boy your stress because you’re being
of boy your stress because you’re being exposed to new things that you’re not
exposed to new things that you’re not
exposed to new things that you’re not familiar with but that’s how you grow
familiar with but that’s how you grow
familiar with but that’s how you grow you you learn something new you become a
you you learn something new you become a
you you learn something new you become a better version of yourself and then the
better version of yourself and then the
better version of yourself and then the pent in the panic tones the outermost
pent in the panic tones the outermost
pent in the panic tones the outermost stone that’s where you don’t really want
stone that’s where you don’t really want
stone that’s where you don’t really want to go because that’s when your
to go because that’s when your
to go because that’s when your subjective so many things that your
subjective so many things that your
subjective so many things that your not comfortable comfortable with like
not comfortable comfortable with like
not comfortable comfortable with like your bodies goes into panic shutdown
your bodies goes into panic shutdown
your bodies goes into panic shutdown mode and just starts freaking out for
mode and just starts freaking out for
mode and just starts freaking out for example you’ll be challenging yourself
example you’ll be challenging yourself
example you’ll be challenging yourself to learn French and German and how to
to learn French and German and how to
to learn French and German and how to play the piano taking on the new job
play the piano taking on the new job
play the piano taking on the new job moves here you see the all of the same
moves here you see the all of the same
moves here you see the all of the same time and you’re about it’s like I can’t
time and you’re about it’s like I can’t
time and you’re about it’s like I can’t do that let’s think about it again
do that let’s think about it again
do that let’s think about it again girlfriend so that’s why we should stay
girlfriend so that’s why we should stay
girlfriend so that’s why we should stay in the stress zone the stress is
in the stress zone the stress is
in the stress zone the stress is manageable
manageable
manageable you take them your new test one that one
you take them your new test one that one
you take them your new test one that one that one at the time so you start by
that one at the time so you start by
that one at the time so you start by moving to your different city working a
moving to your different city working a
moving to your different city working a different job let you start learning a
different job let you start learning a
different job let you start learning a new skill one at a time steadily you
new skill one at a time steadily you
new skill one at a time steadily you become better you know what used to be
become better you know what used to be
become better you know what used to be your stress them well maybe in your
your stress them well maybe in your
your stress them well maybe in your panic zone now turns you into a comfort
panic zone now turns you into a comfort
panic zone now turns you into a comfort zone and it completely grow and grow
zone and it completely grow and grow
zone and it completely grow and grow their comfort zone becomes bigger your
their comfort zone becomes bigger your
their comfort zone becomes bigger your stress home becomes bigger and then so
stress home becomes bigger and then so
stress home becomes bigger and then so does your panic zone so I encourage you
does your panic zone so I encourage you
does your panic zone so I encourage you guys to break through your comfort zone
guys to break through your comfort zone
guys to break through your comfort zone and really step into your stress zone so
and really step into your stress zone so
and really step into your stress zone so you can become a better version of
you can become a better version of
you can become a better version of yourself learn and grow as a human as a
yourself learn and grow as a human as a
yourself learn and grow as a human as a student as a business leader as a
student as a business leader as a
student as a business leader as a professional my third lesson coming goes
professional my third lesson coming goes
professional my third lesson coming goes hand-in-hand with my second lesson about
hand-in-hand with my second lesson about
hand-in-hand with my second lesson about comfort zones so after I decided I’m
comfort zones so after I decided I’m
comfort zones so after I decided I’m gonna break through my comfort zone I’m
gonna break through my comfort zone I’m
gonna break through my comfort zone I’m going to you know make the most of my
going to you know make the most of my
going to you know make the most of my time in New Zealand and not be crying
time in New Zealand and not be crying
time in New Zealand and not be crying every night I sat down and made a list
every night I sat down and made a list
every night I sat down and made a list of things that I would like to try I was
of things that I would like to try I was
of things that I would like to try I was like this is my chance to revenge myself
like this is my chance to revenge myself
like this is my chance to revenge myself these people don’t know me they don’t
these people don’t know me they don’t
these people don’t know me they don’t know my background I basically have a
know my background I basically have a
know my background I basically have a new identity I can do whatever I want
new identity I can do whatever I want
new identity I can do whatever I want with this so the first thing I did to
with this so the first thing I did to
with this so the first thing I did to break through my comfort zone was that
break through my comfort zone was that
break through my comfort zone was that turned to the girl sitting next to me in
turned to the girl sitting next to me in
turned to the girl sitting next to me in commerce class I just don’t remember
commerce class I just don’t remember
commerce class I just don’t remember that her name is Jessica would became
that her name is Jessica would became
that her name is Jessica would became best friends after them I said Jessica
best friends after them I said Jessica
best friends after them I said Jessica would you like to go to lunch with me we
would you like to go to lunch with me we
would you like to go to lunch with me we have a dining hall it was quite scary it
have a dining hall it was quite scary it
have a dining hall it was quite scary it was it was worth in saga like you think
was it was worth in saga like you think
was it was worth in saga like you think the lines at dug out during lunch time
the lines at dug out during lunch time
the lines at dug out during lunch time was bad you show don’t do st. Peter
was bad you show don’t do st. Peter
was bad you show don’t do st. Peter school and look at little Ashland dining
school and look at little Ashland dining
school and look at little Ashland dining hall people were savage so I was like I
hall people were savage so I was like I
hall people were savage so I was like I don’t want to be alone anymore I want to
don’t want to be alone anymore I want to
don’t want to be alone anymore I want to make friends and instead of saying oh no
make friends and instead of saying oh no
make friends and instead of saying oh no no
no
no one likes me no one wants to talk to me
one likes me no one wants to talk to me
one likes me no one wants to talk to me I think I decided to reach out Rick’s in
I think I decided to reach out Rick’s in
I think I decided to reach out Rick’s in my comfort zone using my English skill I
my comfort zone using my English skill I
my comfort zone using my English skill I wasn’t really comfortable with and say
wasn’t really comfortable with and say
wasn’t really comfortable with and say hey I want to get lunch she said sure
hey I want to get lunch she said sure
hey I want to get lunch she said sure and I was that that was easy
and I was that that was easy
and I was that that was easy so that’s why the third lesson is to
so that’s why the third lesson is to
so that’s why the third lesson is to turn the stress in your environment into
turn the stress in your environment into
turn the stress in your environment into your opportunities as this business
your opportunities as this business
your opportunities as this business student I love the concept of having a
student I love the concept of having a
student I love the concept of having a SWOT analysis anyone heard of a SWOT
SWOT analysis anyone heard of a SWOT
SWOT analysis anyone heard of a SWOT analysis your strengths weaknesses
analysis your strengths weaknesses
analysis your strengths weaknesses opportunities and threats well know that
opportunities and threats well know that
opportunities and threats well know that not only applies to businesses that also
not only applies to businesses that also
not only applies to businesses that also applies to you as a human being we all
applies to you as a human being we all
applies to you as a human being we all have strengths and weaknesses we’ll all
have strengths and weaknesses we’ll all
have strengths and weaknesses we’ll all face different threats and opportunities
face different threats and opportunities
face different threats and opportunities in our environment and that should not
in our environment and that should not
in our environment and that should not be avoided such should be confronted and
be avoided such should be confronted and
be avoided such should be confronted and trained to your opportunities for
trained to your opportunities for
trained to your opportunities for example when I went to Freiburg Germany
example when I went to Freiburg Germany
example when I went to Freiburg Germany before I blended in Germany all of
before I blended in Germany all of
before I blended in Germany all of Germany could no I knew was young and 9
Germany could no I knew was young and 9
Germany could no I knew was young and 9 yes and that was not good after that I
yes and that was not good after that I
yes and that was not good after that I knew that was a threat to me so I turned
knew that was a threat to me so I turned
knew that was a threat to me so I turned into opportunity to actually learn about
into opportunity to actually learn about
into opportunity to actually learn about different culture about a different
different culture about a different
different culture about a different language I used that as an opportunity
language I used that as an opportunity
language I used that as an opportunity to bond with my flatmates I begged them
to bond with my flatmates I begged them
to bond with my flatmates I begged them to teach me German they laugh and my
to teach me German they laugh and my
to teach me German they laugh and my accent was fine after four months in
accent was fine after four months in
accent was fine after four months in Germany I was comfortable to go to
Germany I was comfortable to go to
Germany I was comfortable to go to Starbucks in order a venti americano in
Starbucks in order a venti americano in
Starbucks in order a venti americano in perfect German they understood me it was
perfect German they understood me it was
perfect German they understood me it was it was great so yeah well you smell that
it was great so yeah well you smell that
it was great so yeah well you smell that not learning German was turned to
not learning German was turned to
not learning German was turned to opportunity to learn and become a better
opportunity to learn and become a better
opportunity to learn and become a better version of myself
version of myself
version of myself another threat I faced when I came to
another threat I faced when I came to
another threat I faced when I came to Wesleyan was I am NOT from here
Wesleyan was I am NOT from here
Wesleyan was I am NOT from here obviously and I knew nothing about okay
obviously and I knew nothing about okay
obviously and I knew nothing about okay that’s a lie I knew something about
that’s a lie I knew something about
that’s a lie I knew something about American culture but I wasn’t familiar
American culture but I wasn’t familiar
American culture but I wasn’t familiar with it so instead of hiding my room and
with it so instead of hiding my room and
with it so instead of hiding my room and not socializing with anyone a training
not socializing with anyone a training
not socializing with anyone a training trip an opportunity to learn about the
trip an opportunity to learn about the
trip an opportunity to learn about the American culture to become front to
American culture to become front to
American culture to become front to become friends with people what I did
become friends with people what I did
become friends with people what I did was I join a lot of student clubs on
was I join a lot of student clubs on
was I join a lot of student clubs on campus including Kappa Delta sorority
campus including Kappa Delta sorority
campus including Kappa Delta sorority and other organizations and that’s how I
and other organizations and that’s how I
and other organizations and that’s how I met so many wonderful wonderful people
met so many wonderful wonderful people
met so many wonderful wonderful people on cam
on cam
on cam this and they helped me grow they help
this and they helped me grow they help
this and they helped me grow they help me they help me break from my comfort
me they help me break from my comfort
me they help me break from my comfort zone they helped me become a better
zone they helped me become a better
zone they helped me become a better version of myself so don’t be afraid
version of myself so don’t be afraid
version of myself so don’t be afraid upset
upset
upset don’t let a threats make you retreat
don’t let a threats make you retreat
don’t let a threats make you retreat that your comfort zone
that your comfort zone
that your comfort zone it’s tempting it’s comfortable but being
it’s tempting it’s comfortable but being
it’s tempting it’s comfortable but being comfortable won’t magic grow it won’t
comfortable won’t magic grow it won’t
comfortable won’t magic grow it won’t let you break through my fourth lesson
let you break through my fourth lesson
let you break through my fourth lesson was instead of only having international
was instead of only having international
was instead of only having international students break through on their own it
students break through on their own it
students break through on their own it it should be a two-way two-way street
it should be a two-way two-way street
it should be a two-way two-way street basically fortunately st. Peter School
basically fortunately st. Peter School
basically fortunately st. Peter School in Illinois Wesleyan were both very very
in Illinois Wesleyan were both very very
in Illinois Wesleyan were both very very welcoming and accommodating for
welcoming and accommodating for
welcoming and accommodating for international students there were a lot
international students there were a lot
international students there were a lot of culture clubs and workshops on campus
of culture clubs and workshops on campus
of culture clubs and workshops on campus that I can go to but this shouldn’t only
that I can go to but this shouldn’t only
that I can go to but this shouldn’t only be an institutional thing the mass of
be an institutional thing the mass of
be an institutional thing the mass of students were coming to members I
students were coming to members I
students were coming to members I encourage you to actually take the
encourage you to actually take the
encourage you to actually take the initiative to make friends with people
initiative to make friends with people
initiative to make friends with people from international background to learn
from international background to learn
from international background to learn more about an international culture you
more about an international culture you
more about an international culture you shouldn’t be relying an international
shouldn’t be relying an international
shouldn’t be relying an international student who came from say China or Japan
student who came from say China or Japan
student who came from say China or Japan who spoke probably minimal English and
who spoke probably minimal English and
who spoke probably minimal English and make them break through the comfort zone
make them break through the comfort zone
make them break through the comfort zone immediately and starts socializing with
immediately and starts socializing with
immediately and starts socializing with everyone they meet on campus that’s not
everyone they meet on campus that’s not
everyone they meet on campus that’s not realistic instead there should be you
realistic instead there should be you
realistic instead there should be you know a give-and-take domestic students
know a give-and-take domestic students
know a give-and-take domestic students reach out to Lim ask them for to lunch
reach out to Lim ask them for to lunch
reach out to Lim ask them for to lunch ask them to dinner say hey do you want
ask them to dinner say hey do you want
ask them to dinner say hey do you want to grab some coffee and that’s a great
to grab some coffee and that’s a great
to grab some coffee and that’s a great way to socialize a lot of coffee yeah
way to socialize a lot of coffee yeah
way to socialize a lot of coffee yeah we’re not saying no to anyone we
we’re not saying no to anyone we
we’re not saying no to anyone we inviting me to coffee so next time when
inviting me to coffee so next time when
inviting me to coffee so next time when there isn’t culture event on campus next
there isn’t culture event on campus next
there isn’t culture event on campus next time there’s a workshop about the first
time there’s a workshop about the first
time there’s a workshop about the first teen clusion we shouldn’t have just
teen clusion we shouldn’t have just
teen clusion we shouldn’t have just international students or faculty and
international students or faculty and
international students or faculty and staff attending domestic students you’ll
staff attending domestic students you’ll
staff attending domestic students you’ll learn and they should step up their own
learn and they should step up their own
learn and they should step up their own comfort zone to learn about other’s
comfort zone to learn about other’s
comfort zone to learn about other’s culture of its background and become
culture of its background and become
culture of its background and become more inclusive because by learning about
more inclusive because by learning about
more inclusive because by learning about a different culture you grow we lay
a different culture you grow we lay
a different culture you grow we lay something and hands to become better
something and hands to become better
something and hands to become better version of yourself I’m gonna end this
version of yourself I’m gonna end this
version of yourself I’m gonna end this with
with
with a quote from Rapunzel and we all know if
a quote from Rapunzel and we all know if
a quote from Rapunzel and we all know if a Disney Princess say that it’s legit
a Disney Princess say that it’s legit
a Disney Princess say that it’s legit and we better listen to it so and does
and we better listen to it so and does
and we better listen to it so and does the other than 10 movie tingle Rapunzel
the other than 10 movie tingle Rapunzel
the other than 10 movie tingle Rapunzel Stan venture outside your comfort zone
Stan venture outside your comfort zone
Stan venture outside your comfort zone the results are worth it and I can speak
the results are worth it and I can speak
the results are worth it and I can speak from personal experience the results
from personal experience the results
from personal experience the results definitely are thank you
”
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