I took this photograph last spring during my semester abroad. While Rome was my home for the five months, other cities became my next door neighbors and I was afforded the opportunity to travel across Europe nearly every weekend. This specific photo was from a weekend trip to Amsterdam where I met up with twelve of my friends, also GW students, who were all spending their semesters in various European locations as well. As hectic as thirteen friends sharing a room with one bathroom was, the combination of friendship, adventurous personalities, and the passion for traveling in all of us truly united the group and made for an unforgettable and cherished experience.
This photograph inspires me because it reminds me of a carefree time where the only worry in the world for five entire months was where we were headed the following weekend. The serenity portrayed in the photograph also reflects my attitude and vibrant appreciation of life that I experienced during the semester. Currently the background of my computer screen and also framed on my wall in my apartment, I am reminded each day to appreciate life as much as I did during my time studying abroad. I'm inspired to find a career path where I can replicate the happiness and love for life that I was so fortunate to already have experienced before. This photograph, as silly as it may seem, keeps me on track and reminds me that no matter how large a problem or worry is at a specific time, it's not the end of the world, there are greater problems out there, and at the end of the day we should be grateful for what we have, who we are, who we are with, and strive towards being carefree and happy.