Having switched elementary schools as a child, I was teased and made fun of because of my size. I became an extremely self-conscious person in middle school and would constantly limit what I could do because of it. I grew to become a shy and quiet person. Someone who responds but never initiates, someone who likes to stay at home than go out, someone who wants to fit in rather than stand out.
Participating in Global Glimpse allowed me to realize that people don’t think poorly of me and instead, it was my mind limiting what I did and how I acted around people. Not knowing anyone in my delegation for the trip, it was a very nerve-wracking experience that brought me out of my comfort zone and helped me build my confidence around others. Whether it was playing hour-long games of Uno or soccer in the dark, the Global Glimpse trip helped me connect with people I would have never met and connect them to my existing friends.
Coming back as a changed person, I felt the urge to initiate, the urge to go out, the urge to stand out. Inspired, I worked with a small group of students to start a small group and earn funding to teach and mentor new students into the Computer Science field. Without the powerful experience that Global Glimpse offered me, my lifetime bully would have prevented me from being myself.
