Roughly 3 months ago I found myself in a room with 17 other students, 3 of which I knew, but none of whom I really KNEW. To be honest I was nervous about how I would fit in with everyone, and if I would have a good time in Greece with the people I saw.
I had fears about assimilating to our group culture, whatever that culture may be. I have a very defined role amongst my friend groups, and to be with a group of people who didn't know me, I was worried about how I would be perceived.
Here among almost all complete strangers, I have discovered what aspects of my personality are true. My biggest strengths and weaknesses. What things about me are concrete no matter what setting I'm in. I've found that leadership and humor are qualities I carry around the globe.
Who are you? That question is deep. Who you are truly cannot be found inside your comfort zone. Now in Athens for just a week I am as comfortable as I am in Seattle. Therefore it is only a matter of time before we assimilate to our surroundings.
Home is relative. It's a comfort area, not a specific location. Therefore the times in our life when we find out the most about ourselves are when we are in between comfort cones. When we are in between, we develop a better sense of who we are. Without our familiarities to tell us who we are, we must look inward and find it out for ourselves.
I've experienced this in this first week in Athens and it has helped me gain self-confidence in myself and my identity. Greece has helped me validate my definition of who Zach Pearson is, and for that, I will forever be grateful.
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