Tuesday, April 21, 2015

A little London reflection

“To travel is to take a journey into yourself.” Danny Kaye


As you've noticed, it's been awhile since I've posted on here, and for that I am sorry, both to you who read this and to myself who will regret this years down the road when I try to recall all the nitty gritty details. I've been so busy (how typical), and I'm planning on rebranding myself here soon, so be ready for a brand new blog (name and everything!). Anyway, I wrote a blog for this class that was filled with assignments that I wasn't necessarily wanting to share. However, I wanted to share this post because it was one that I felt proud of. But, more than that, it really does seem to sum up as best as I can what this semester has mean to me. So, here we go.

"I had to start this off with a cheesy quote that perfectly summarizes what this 4,217-mile trip across the world did for me. I could write a book about what happened and what I learned, but here is the best summary I can give.

This semester has taught me one thing: I have absolutely no clue what I want to do with my life. I thought I had it all figured out: New York, fashion, a never-ending wardrobe in a city that never sleeps. But, I've since realized that small villages in the middle of nowhere Europe have a charm that can't be recreated anywhere else. Who needs a never-ending wardrobe when you can live out of a suitcase and bike through the Bavarian Alps with just a few layers that no one will see anyway? My classes at London College of Fashion were not completely what I expected. I went into Styling and Fashion History thinking I’d come out with some kind of knowledge of how everything worked, ready to jump right into work in the Big Apple. But if I learned anything, it’s that the people are not kind. I knew fashion was a hard industry, but I don’t want to live in a society where people don’t respect each other. I’m so happy I discovered this now; that’s what I’ve taken from away from this experience.

I know I wasn't cut out for a 9-5, which is what I loved about my internship. I was in the neighborhood of the Olympic Park, astounding at its beauty each day I went to work. I want early mornings and late nights, weird hours with ‘field trips’ along the way: almost exactly what my internship let me do. I’ve learned the values of independence and what hard work can do. I’ve learned that the only way to grow as a person and worker is to step outside my comfort zone; taking the tube on my first day, scared out of my mind? Yes, and you know what? I survived! I made it. And I’m only better because of it.

My favorite part of the trip was spring break by far; nothing could compare. I went into the trip only just meeting these girls, and I have never been happier with a decision than the one I made to go travel with them (except my decision to study in London, of course). I checked off so many firsts off of my list, visited cities and places that were so beautiful it made my heart hurt, and laughed more than I have in my entire life. Sure, we had MANY bumps along the way, but we took them on and made it into the most incredible week I’ve ever had. I can see our lives over that week being made into one of those silly movies that makes you cringe at everything goes wrong, but it would be the funniest thing you’d ever see. Guaranteed. This trip has continued to surprise me. I’ve learned that it’s okay to want to be independent. It’s okay to not know what I’m doing because there are so many possibilities to try new things. It’s okay to get rid of the old Maggie who was too scared to step out of her comfort zone for the one who was just waiting to step out and have a great time in this big old world.

If I’ve learned anything, it’s that I shouldn’t be afraid to be who I want to be. London has taught me that it’s not weird to want Bleach London’s Rosé pink hair and wear mom jeans. Yes, mom jeans. I’ve learned that I want to visit countries that people have never heard of, meet people that will teach me more about what it means to be an individual. This may all be tacky and naive, but why stick to society's standards of happiness and cut-throat competition to find "happiness" in a job that buys all those things that make us unhappy anyway? I'll be happy with a place & people that make me happy, and I've found that here in London or maybe somewhere in Europe along the way. When people say that they left their heart in London, I think I finally know what they mean. It may not be love like people love other people, but it's a love that's bigger than any of that. It's a joy that one finds when he or she realizes that he or she has found where they belong. And I've found that here. Is this where I'll end up? Maybe. We really do just live once, and the whole point for living is to find happiness. Though I have no idea what I’m doing, I know that I must be in the right track since I've never been happier in my entire life. It took me 19 years to step outside my comfort zone, try something new, and realize that everything I've always wanted isn't what I actually want. Thank you, London, for teaching me this. It's been the best thing I've ever learned.

(This video basically sums it all up; Will understands what I’m feeling about the future after this time in the UK. Thank you, Mark and Jen, for your help this semester; life changing isn’t even fit to describe what this semester was for me)."


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