by Kendall Robinson | Nursing | Class of 2024
Academic Term of Essay Subject: Summer Term 2022
My life changing experience began while on my study abroad trip to Luxembourg and Switzerland with some of my fellow nursing students. I was riding in a cable car to the highest point in the Alpine Mountains and I remember all I could think about was the fact that I was soaring through the clouds to what looked like the most beautiful place in the world. As we went higher and higher, I could see the town of Chamonix getting smaller and smaller; it felt like the world was fading. When we finally arrived at the top of the mountain, over 13,000 feet in the air, I stepped off of the cable car into the 20 degree, windy, snow covered atmosphere that surrounded me.
I took a deep breath of what felt like the freshest air in the world. It was brisk, but pure; the kind of air that you can never get enough of. I stood on the platform and stared at the snow covered peaks. They sparkled like diamonds and reflected onto the lush, green valleys that laid below. I felt an overwhelming sense of peace and relaxation. Snow has always been one of my favorite things. The glistening sparkle of undisturbed snow is beautiful, and being surrounded by mountains covered in it was absolutely breathtaking. As I began to walk through the tunnels to different platforms on top of the mountain, I heard so many different sounds. There were sounds of wind whooshing between the mountains, as well as the sound of people from all over the world speaking different languages.
There is nothing better than the unity of individuals across many different cultures admiring the world and all it has to offer. Although I could not communicate with words to each person due to the language barrier, the expressions on their faces were worth a thousand words. You could see the joy and amazement in the eyes of everyone who stood there looking at snowy mountains that went on for what looked like miles and miles. People were turning to others in their groups and pointing at the sights that were presented before us. The reflection of the sun on the snow was shining in the eyes of everyone around; it was such a magical moment.
As my time on the mountain top came to an end, I could not help but feel sad. I did not want to leave, ever. However, this was inevitable and as we made our way back down the mountain on the cable car, I began to reflect. I was mesmerized by the diversity that I had just witnessed. At that moment, I just knew I had found something special. Something that I could not seem to get enough of. I felt a calling in my heart like never before. I knew that I wanted to be a nurse, but I did not know exactly where I wanted to work in nursing. However, as I rode to the bottom of the mountain back into Chamonix I knew exactly where I was meant to be in my future profession. I was meant to be put right in the middle of diversity. I was meant to help people of all cultures and travel the world finding new places, new people, new cultures, all while doing something I am very passionate about; nursing. I was emotional, but overjoyed. I could not wait to tell my family about this moment and how much it impacted my life.
The world is a beautiful place and there is so much out there. There is no better way to explore and experience the world than by diving into the deep waters of cultural diversity. By putting yourself out there, like me, you might have a life changing moment. You might find something that will expand upon your original calling, or maybe you will find an entirely different calling. Who knows? What I do know is that traveling abroad was one of the best decisions of my life and I will never forget the experiences and memories. When you find yourself in a moment like I found myself in, just stop and take it in. Take a deep breath, because you might find that this is just the breath of fresh air you were looking for.