You Only Live Once.
This was my mindset for my first-ever study abroad trip, CSR in Southeast Asia. Coming into this experience, I was the type of person to hold myself back from experiencing the beauty of life because of self-doubt and insecurities, and growing up as a Filipino American played a role in this as well. I grew up shying away from experiences for the sake of putting others before myself. And as a result, creating a hard shell for the future me to break away from. But that all changed when I began my study abroad tour in Thailand and Cambodia.
When I landed in Bangkok, everything felt familiar; the heat, humidity, and even the scents, as it reminded me of the Philippines and my experiences during my first time in Thailand back in 2023. This was my second time in Thailand, but this time it was from an academic perspective while visiting different areas such as Khao Lak, Khao Sok, and Siem Reap, Cambodia. There was something in the air this time around that resulted in me transforming into a newer version of myself that I did not expect. I cannot put into words the emotions of feeling something yet so familiar, yet so new at the same time.
My study abroad experience in Thailand and Cambodia focused on the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility, and how it influences diverse groups of people and industries within the world of Business. As a business student, I found myself analyzing and comparing methods from Thailand and Cambodia back to the United States and identifying their differences. Organizations push their boundaries every day to the point of having no comfort zone. With their messages & actions, the organizations can shift their projects to target different audiences. Because of this, I would constantly think of how I could push my comfort zone through my adventures on this trip.
Some of my most unforgettable experiences were the ones I experienced for the first time or once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Throughout the three weeks, I would push myself out of my bubble left and right. We visited places such as the Khao Lak Elephant Home, where we got to feed and bathe elephants, hold monkeys at the monkey training school, as well as visit places such as the Thai Navy Sea Turtle Conservation, where we got to clean sea turtles, as well as see some be released into the ocean!
As I went through these experiences, I thought to myself “You only live once, take it all in because you’ll never know when something like this will ever happen again”. Having this mindset in mind allowed me to see the light of the world regardless of how dark it can be. It taught me to always be grateful, remember where I came from, and give back. Reminding myself of the sacrifices my Filipino immigrant parents went through to give me the best education possible. As well as realizing how lucky I am to be in the position I am currently in to pursue my dreams and the privilege I have to pursue an education internationally.
To fellow UWB students who plan to go on a study abroad experience, but may be hesitant to step out of their comfort zone.
- Be present & take it all in: Taking in new experiences can be overwhelming, but give a moment for yourself to embrace your new surroundings no matter the pace. Being in a new country for academics is an immense privilege to be in and looking forward in new lenses amplifies everything else.
- It is okay to say no: There will be experiences where you feel uncomfortable. It is more than okay to take a step back from something you know isn’t for you. Finding that balance in experiences is important as it allows us to build boundaries and understand ourselves to another extent.
- You never know unless you try: Do not be afraid of trying new things. Curiosity is a wonderful thing, as it allows us to learn more about ourselves and the process. Some of the best experiences I’ve had are ones that I was scared to do or was uncomfortable with, but after doing them they were some of my happiest moments. Be optimistic about the events you experience and know that you’ll become a stronger version of yourself in the end.
The heartfelt experiences let me reflect on the small, intimate moments that happened and realize the impact every moment made on me and my self-growth. From seeing the smiles of local people of how proud they are to be Thai or Khmer, seeing everyone being so open to teaching us the proper mannerisms of each country, to witnessing so many people be content with the life they live right now. They found comfort in different stages of life and have motivated me to strive for that as well. I learned that I want to pursue a career in International Business and continue my passions abroad. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that this trip about CSR business open more opportunities to venture into. But I am ready to travel in my newfound “comfort” zone, all because I experienced every moment as if it were my last.
One of my hobbies I enjoy doing is social media content creation and documenting many moments in my life. I will be posting a few vlogs on YouTube during my study abroad experiences in Thailand and Cambodia. Please feel free to check them out here: https://www.youtube.com/@cyrisvillegas
