To say this was a trip of a lifetime is an understatement. It was truly a life changing experience that I will never forget and words can’t desribe how much it has meant to me. Going into this, I’m not sure what I was expecting, but the outcome went beyond any of my expectations. I came in wanting to meet new people and get a full cultural experience, but I came out with new friends, new memories, and a new self overall. I have learned so much not only in terms of medicine and culture, but also about myself and the world around me. I looked forward to going to class everyday not only because I was so interested in learning about healthcare in India and first aid, but also because I knew it was with people who later became my family. I loved going out with everyone and exploring the environment around me because it allowed me to meet new people and talk to the locals, expanding my knowledge about the way of life and culture in Mussoorie. And of course, the place — no words need to be said for how much I enjoyed the outdoors and just how beautiful this town was. 

I truly cannot even begin to describe just how much this trip has taught me, but more than that, it has allowed me to grow as a person. Coming to a new country all alone, not knowing anyone, has only allowed me to further work on myself, as I was forced to adapt and change along with everyone else. Learning to navigate through this new world taught me a lot about independence, responsibility, and communication. Though I was already an independent individual, learning to navigate a whole new country came with its own brand new lessons that have allowed me to grow professionally and personally, in the sense that I’ve been able to work my way through meeting new people and guiding myself through a completely new culture and way of life. Academically, the intensity of this program has taught me about what I’m capable of and has only furthered my love for medicine. Being in this program has only exposed me more to healthcare in a way that furthered my dedication to wanting a career in medicine, so much so that I want to come back. 

My biggest takeaway from this experience has to be the importance of letting go once in a while. I’ve been able to see the world in a new light and recently discovered just how vast it is. Having always been so hyper-focused on my academic career, I’ve never actually let myself go very often, but this trip has only taught me just how much the world has to offer and how much more there is left to see. It’s taught me that you can have the best of both worlds, academically and personally, if you just learn to create that perfect balance. It’s all about taking responsibility and having that dedication. I hope to continuously remember just how much this trip has given me and take that into account when I go back to Pitt. Instead of being so hyper-focused on my career, I want to also let go and explore the world around me more because ultimately, it’s these experiences from which I will learn the most from, as I was able to see through this program. Such experiences might prove to be the most valuable for my career in the end, you never know.