The Person I Hope to Be

Bridget Nelson
Sep 4, 2018 · 3 min read

“A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there.” -John Assaraf


I have been back with my family for almost 5 weeks now. I’ve been home for nearly as many weeks as I was gone, yet time seems to go by a whole lot faster when you’re in your comfort zone.

It’s no secret that this summer was a challenging one for me, as it held circumstances I couldn’t have prepared for even if I tried. But during these past 5 weeks back home, I have witnessed time & time again how much Morocco positively changed my outlook on life.

For starters, little thing that I took advantage of at home are suddenly ten times before beautiful than before. I’ve found joy in merely washing the dishes in the kitchen sink I grew up with (much to my mother’s excitement), I have made dinner for my family on multiple occassions (still on a serious learning curve but just happy to be able to read labels at grocery stores again), and driving to Target or going for a run in the park next my house feel like the most intimate, divine moments since they are familiar and comfortable.

Comfortability was not a word that I would associate with my summer — and I am surprisingly grateful for that. I am now hyper-aware of what a comfort zone is and the way comfortability can limit your world view & experiences.

As I answer the daily question of, “What were you doing in Morocco?!” from neighbors and friends and family and occassionally even strangers, I still am surprised everytime the words “interning for a social enterprise that invests in women empowerment” leave my mouth. That was me. That was my life. I got to do that!!!

One of the most humbling responses I’ve gotten, however, came after an honest and sincere conversation with my friend’s dad about my summer. I talked about the difficulties and the daily challenges and the readjustment back home, and he just looked at me at the end of our conversation and said, “I don’t think you realize how much this experience is going to shape who you are.”

I really hope he’s right.

I hope that I become someone who continues to do things that are hard or uncomfortable. I hope I am someone who continues to push herself, to willingly immerse herself in other cultures, to help give voices to those who don’t always get heard. I want to be the person I imagined myself being after this experience; fearless, inspired, and eager to see more.

I leave for Prague next week, where I will be living for 4 months as I study abroad in Europe. While I’m teaching myself how to say goodbye to my comfort zone yet again, I now know that the things that lay ahead are filled with more beauty, growth, challenge, and excitement than I could ever imagine. I’m reminding myself — again — that my room will still be here when I get back. As will Target, and my family, and my beloved windows-down drives on the Freeway.

So thank you, Morocco, for toughening me up even the slightest, & for helping me find the beauty in the complicated processes that are change and growth. I’ll be carrying you with me wherever I go.

Bridget Nelson
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