6 Word Memoir

I honestly just wanted to travel.

When I was little, I have always been awed by the stories told by my relatives who travel to other countries. I did my best to use their words to construct the destinations in my imagination. I wanted to see the world myself with my own eyes.

The call was clear. I was meant to be a flight attendant. It made perfect sense. I loved to be outside. I yearned to explore. I spent vacations traveling to Hawaii, Washington, New York, Chicago and other beautiful places around the country.

Fast forward to years later, in the reality that is college, where I am pursuing an education that does not at all teach me the basics of anything in the long list of aviation careers. I am 24 and still do not know the in’s and out’s of working inside an actual aircraft. I guess it is because I am occupied studying Kinesiology-related subjects. I began attending SDSU as a Pre-Physical Therapy student, an aftermath of volunteer work in a hospital and witnessing treatment sessions firsthand. I love to help people and coming from a family of doctors and nurses led me to finding my passion in healthcare.

The longing to go on adventures to random countries was still there. A thought to keep on the back burner until I had the time and energy which sounded impossible with school, 2 jobs, my internship and other extracurricular activities. I always gave myself the assurance of having the freedom of doing everything that I wanted after I am finally relieved of my educational commitments. Until then, all there is to stay focused on was to succeed while keeping my sanity as I dragged myself to get through busy weeks. My days went by smoothly, but others were definitely a challenge. After 3 years of believing in my capabilities, at some point everything just shifted and there were more stressful days than there were just good ones. Fortunately, I did not go crazy. Unfortunately, I did almost lose myself.

I clocked out of one job at 1 am and needed to report to my other job at 7 am. Somewhere in between the two I fell asleep behind the wheel and crashed my car. No pun intended, but it was a hard wake up call for me and good reminder to take care of myself better. However, things didn’t get any easier after the fact. I was easily fatigued physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and everything else that ends with -ly. At some point I was not enjoying life and needed a break. It took a lot for my workaholic self to ask for time off, and when I did, I asked for a whole month.

For the first time in a while I listened to my heart and did what I wanted. Soon, I was getting ready for a trip that was different from all the others that I have went on in the past. I packed up my bags and spent 4 weeks in the Philippines, in a village I have never been to, surrounded by people I have never met, and although several times we did not have water and electricity, the camp runs out of food, and two snakes came in our room a couple of times, it was one of the best experiences in my life.

I signed up for a volunteer education project. It was not easy at all to temporarily be living in an area that is engulfed by darkness after the sun sets due to the lack of lighting in the community, or just two toilets in a campsite house of 16 girls, or with the only way to shower was with a cold bucket of water, or to be at risk of being a buffet for mosquitos each day. Every day was a blessing with so much to gain. I am incredibly thankful for the international friends I made and the hospitality and love of the village I have left a part of my heart with. It gave my perspective of travel a whole new meaning. For years, I have looked at going to foreign countries as a fun way to take things with me: culture, food, sights, knowledge, souvenirs and all that stuff. Now, the goal of the travel is to visit new places with the intention of leaving something behind. The experience made me look forward to the medical missions I am looking to be a part of after earning my Doctorate in Physical Therapy.

I do not have my doctorate yet, but I will. Right now I just have myself, and being an able-bodied individual is enough of a reason to do more for myself and the people around me.

I honestly just wanted to travel. I still do, but with a better purpose.