Education

"True education is a kind of never ending story-a matter of continual beginnings, of habitual fresh starts, of persistent newness."

- J.R.R. Tolkien

All moved in and starting new adventures.

Tune in for more adventures.

Sincerely,

A.

Interesting times.....

Dear Reader,

You have caught me at a most interesting time in my life and I feel as harried as the stranger who accidentally walks into the bathroom while you’re doing a number two.

In a week, I leave for college. Less than a month ago, I was traveling through Spain and Senegal. I don’t know if my head has quite caught up to me yet.

The hope is that I can tell you about my travels, both internationally and the journey to college. Both have been full of laughter and tears, and both have a similar goal in common: I want to challenge myself.

I am one of those sick thrill seekers who likes to put themselves to the test; it’s still unclear to me why but it’s a force never the less. So instead of going to college within New England, home to a college per street corner, I choose Arizona. Yes, finances played a part (merit scholarships baby!) and the constant sunshine did add incentive but most of all, I wanted to prove to myself that I could live on my own. I choose the challenge.

It was the same with Africa: I went for the challenge. I wanted to see the world. I wanted to see how other people lived, loved and laughed. So instead of going to Europe straight away, I choose Senegal.

Do I regret either? Not really.

Am/was scared as hell at the prospect? Heck yes.

But I think challenge is necessary.  Challenge requires growth and growth will make me more like the person I hope to be: a women following God and loving life.

Tony Robbins had it right: “Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity and responsibility to give something back by becoming something more.”

So brace yourself because this flower to about to bloom.

Sincerely,

A.

Welcome to 5 x 5.

Everyone has a dream.

Ever reached your dream and asked yourself: now what?

This summer, I reached my dream: going on a missions trip with my youth group to Africa. We went to Senegal and it was a blast, but I found myself sitting in the airport on the way home asking, now what? I pondered for a bit, thinking maybe now I could focus on learning how to sew, maybe pick up a new hobby, or finally figure out how to ice skate, but nothing really tickled my fancy. So, I picked up my journal and started to finish writing about my Senegalese experience. After three hours of journaling, it hit me: I really like traveling. Honestly, even though I was sitting in 102 degree heat, in dirty clothing and was about to walk a half of a mile down the tarmac to get to my airplane, I had never felt so at peace in my life. Why was I trying to find another dream to do admits hobbies when there was so much more to adventure out there? so much more to be explored and experienced?

That's how 5 x 5 was formed: it's the beginning of a new dream.

The Dream: 5 countries in 5 years, or by the time I hit 25.

Right now, I'm 18 with 2 countries knocked off the list and looking back, it's the journey that got me there that matters and contains the real stories. So, I'm dedicating this blog to the journey along the way, the adventures and the coming backs.

This is just the beginning of another dream and another story.

Welcome to the journey,

XO Alysha Marie