My Path to China

The summer between my junior and senior years of high school, I went to a leadership camp at Southern Utah University called the Governor's Honors Academy (GHA).  While I was there I was asked what one of my aspirations was.  The first thing that came to mind was to go to a foreign country and teach children English.

The thought intimidated me.  I wasn't sure enough of myself.  I wasn't sure if I could complete this dream that I had created.

After GHA ended I didn't think about it much.  My senior year consumed my life and it got pushed to the recesses of my mind.  Every once in a while I thought briefly about it, but I didn't want to think about it too much.

I headed to Southern Utah University after graduation and ended up in a beginning Spanish class with a girl named Mette.  She and I quickly became Spanish buddies and studied together (or rather tried to study, but really ended up chatting about life.)  She told me about going abroad and how she absolutely loved it.

During my second semester she told me about this program called ILP (International Language Programs). It was a program that allowed students to go teach English in various places:  China, Mexico, and Ukraine. We discussed that maybe we could go together to Mexico, especially since we were learning Spanish.  It seemed perfect.  I was going to be able to accomplish my dream!

A little bump in the plan came when I found out that Mette wouldn't be able to go.  I reevaluated if I actually wanted to go.  After some consideration, I decided that I really did want to go, but instead of to Mexico.  I wanted to go to China.

China seemed more exotic and I doubted that I would ever have the opportunity to go there again.  I talked to ILP and found out the requirements of going and applied.  I got in and will be leaving in August for the city Fuqing.  I will be teaching at the Mayflora School.

It will be such an amazing experience!