Hi. Welcome to my first journal entry regarding my 2025-2026 Rotary Youth Exchange. It took some time, but everything has finally fallen into place. I think that’s pretty cool.

My journey has been one of perseverance so far, and I’m grateful to have pushed past the obstacles that delayed my experience. Honestly, I still don’t know what to expect from Sweden. Sure, there’s the research I’ve done on the language, geography, and school system… but I have a strong feeling there’ll be more to my exchange than that. I look forward to embracing the culture and surrounding myself in nature. Martial arts is where my heart’s at, and I’m excited to see how I’ll reincorporate it into my daily life there. I’m nervous about arriving a month late, especially to school, but I’m honored to seize this opportunity.

If all goes well, I have about a week left before my trip begins. I had already said my goodbyes, but there’s no harm in doing so again. The uncertainty about whether my exchange would happen gave me a valuable perspective. I’ve learned to release what I cannot control and find balance between preparing to leave and carrying on with daily life. This taught me to respond fluidly to uncertain situations while always striving to see the cup half full.

I no longer want to dwell on the past, though. I see this opportunity as proof that the best things take time. I’ll be going to Sweden with a completely open mind—whatever lesson I’m meant to learn will find me. I really am excited about the nature, and the chilly weather will definitely give me more time to wear my favorite sweaters compared to Florida! It would be great to experience some of the surviving medieval architecture they have.

I don’t think this experience will shift my concept of home, but perhaps my pace of life. The Swedes go slower, and I wonder if that pace will match what I’ve been craving. There’s something appealing about a culture that values work-life balance and taking time to actually enjoy life rather than constantly rushing toward the next thing. Maybe I’ll learn to slow down in ways that Florida’s fast-paced environment never allowed.

Despite my exhaustion from this whole process, I recognize that I’m about to embark on something meaningful. I’m feeling everything at once right now—gratitude, nervousness, excitement, and honestly, some variability after the ordeal it took to get here.

Perhaps that’s exactly the mindset I need going into this. No unrealistic expectations, no pressure to find a life-changing revelation, just openness to whatever Sweden has to teach me- whether that’s about martial arts, slowing down, or simply being comfortable with uncertainty. After the unforeseeable journey of getting here, perhaps the real growth will come from learning to embrace the unknown without needing to control every outcome.

Whatever happens, you’ll be able to read about it in the next installment. Till then! 🙂

“Peace and blessing manifest with every lesson learned. If your knowledge were your wealth, then it would be well-earned.”
—Erykah Badu, “On & On”