China Changed My Life

My name is Mary Chimbili and studying in China changed my life. It opened my eyes to a world I had never considered. It showed me that the horizons I had conceived for myself could be altered. I learnt that there was no path I had to follow. The only restrictions to a world of possibilities were those I placed upon myself. "Society", this unknowable creature, could not determine my future. Only I could make the decisions that would decide how I would live my life.

What an amazing thing to realize at 19. It was also somewhat scary. Being far from home, struggling to learn a strange language, and suddenly understanding that I was not bound by tradition or convention. I could delay my university studies. I could travel without set dates of departure and return. I could make friends with strangers (sensibly, of course). I could acknowledge that I was not sure what to do with my life, and that this was okay, even normal. It was emancipatory, and it was intimidating. "What should I do now?" I thought. "How will I continue with my life now I know that my future can be so different to what I had imagined?"

I continued by being sensible - preparing for a rainy day - and also being aware of my inner dialogue and the opportunities available to me. I studied, but I also took time off. I worked, but I also traveled. I loved…and that was the scariest thing of all. It was much harder than the challenges of studying abroad. It was scarier than choosing to move to Africa. It was more anxiety-inducing than building a start-up company in China. Choosing to put so much of my heart in the care of another person was the hardest and most wonderful decision I ever made.

Would I have been able to make that decision if I never traveled to China? Would I have had the confidence to move to Africa? Would I have had the vision and the courage to build a start-up company? I don't think so. That's why my start-up aims to help others experience China. Through my company we help people with all the organization and small details required to study or do an internship in China. I hope that our clients are able to improve their Chinese, enjoy professional work experience, explore the amazing history and culture of China, and maybe, just maybe, learn more about themselves. China changed my life, will it change yours? 

Source - The Satellite

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