Journal Entry 1 - Valentia Apartments, La Jolla, CA

I would usually not start writing my journal entry by typing, but I think this is much more convenient, and much more efficient for now, since I have no formal journal place to write. For one, I have not went out to find a nice journal for my trip to Biloxi, Mississippi. This will be unusually short for a first entry, just because I wrote a lot in my journal to Russia, and I think, since I’ve done an AB trip before, it won’t be as a journey into the unknown as much.

So, it’s about 7 to 6 to even less days until departure to Biloxi, Mississippi. It’s someplace I never thought I’d ever go. I mean, out of all the states, why would I just travel there. But, I know that we are going to make a difference as college students from all around the country. It’s going to be an amazing time.

I don’t know what to expect. I just moved out of my apartment, so my life is all in a jumbled mess. I need to get my stuff in order so that when I’m ready to go, I feel less anxious. It’s going to be my first time traveling by plane and this distance all alone. It’s going to be just wild. It’s all a part of growing up, doing things alone, and facing that unknown.

Sometimes, I don’t remember that I am 20 and nearing my 21^st birthday. I have gotten to do some cool things these past year. So, this is just another one of those AMAZING things that I’ll be able to do in my 20 years of life that others would never get to do. Amazing. I’m proud of my accomplishments, the opportunities I have taken, and the things that I hope to do in the near future. Biloxi, Mississippi will be such a great learning experience and an outlet to just do what I love to do, which is volunteer, travel, and meeting new people along the way. I’m so excited.

I again, like on my Russia trip, will try not to have any expectations, and to be in the moment of everything. Yes, I will pull out my camera to capture some moments, but then I’ll remember why I am doing the ABCs, and realize, that I also need to stay present, be where I want to be, and take it all in, because honestly speaking, it might be the only time I’ll get such an experience like this.

I’m going to make the most of the weeklong experience in Biloxi, make connections, and bring the volunteer aspect, enthusiasm, and motivation home to UCSD and hopefully inspire people with my experience, the things I have learned, and hopefully feel happy about all the things I have come to have, love, and be.

I’m just so happy to go as a site leader. I am just waiting until I get to experience it all. Of course, it’s going to be one crazy, hot, humid, experience!