DON'T JUST EXPERIENCE YOUR EXPERIENCES BY JILLIAN JENSEN

What will you do with your life experiences?

We listen to and share life experiences all the time but the question is…what do we do with those life experiences beyond that?

I was afforded an opportunity to live four months of my life in Florence, Italy and travel to different countries and cities throughout my time. My academic courses indulged me in the history of Italy, Italian cuisine, the Italian language, and intercultural and cross-cultural communication. Being in Italy afforded me the opportunity to interact with natives, whether it be professors and/or peers. These interactions allowed for me to learn from and become a part of an entirely new culture. I learned more about my “place” in this world in those four months than I have in my 21 years of living in the United States. I got to experience the various cultures the world consists of. But, I also learned how to adapt to these changing environments and find the beauty in differing values and beliefs of people all over the world. I left my abroad experience with an entirely new perspective on the world around me but more importantly how I interact with the people in it. I learned how to interact, connect, and create relationships with people from completely different life experiences beyond what I could imagine. My two advisors Milva and Luca were my guiding lights who gave me not only life lessons and experiences but relationships that will last a life time.

I want my blog to show that there are experiences we have in our lives that others may never get to experience and the importance of sharing them beyond a story. We need to take those experiences and implement them into our everyday life.

Every experience that you have been a part of, whether it be good or bad shapes who

you are.

My perspective towards others used to be closed off but I have learned to look at the bigger picture. I have made it a part of me to take a step back before I make assumptions of others. Not to say that my voice of judgment doesn’t creep in but I’ve learned to listen more, to ask more questions, and make connections beyond the surface. We all have experiences that makes us who we are and I want challenge who every is reading to take your life experiences and do something beyond telling others about them.

Be proud of them, embrace that they make who you are, and not let them be a small

part of your life.