Today, I am feeling so grateful to feel good and healthy again. I was feeling sick for what felt like such a long time at the beginning of this experience, and I felt like I couldn’t fully enjoy everything around me because of it. I started to take feeling healthy for granted, and at times, it felt like I would never feel better again. Now that I have more energy and can eat full meals again, I feel like I have been recharged and am ready to continue learning from these beautiful schools and students in Gurdaspur.
Being sick also made me realize how much I appreciate the little things that I normally don’t think twice about, like having an appetite, waking up with energy, being able to laugh and be present, and actually having the energy to participate in the day. I feel like I can finally slow down and take in everything around me instead of just trying to get through the day and make it back to somewhere I can lay down. I am especially grateful because this experience is going by so quickly, and I want to be fully present for the time I have left.
I am also really excited because we have a celebration coming up at a nursing college. I am looking forward to spending time with the students and staff in a different setting and getting to celebrate together. I am especially excited that we get to dress up for the celebration because it feels like such a fun and special part of the experience. After spending time learning, facilitating, and having meaningful conversations with students, it will be nice to have a moment where we can enjoy ourselves, celebrate together, probably eat some good food, drink chai, and make more memories.
I feel excited to keep listening to the students, learning from their experiences, and being open to whatever these next few days bring. This experience has already taught me so much, and I know I will leave Gurdaspur with memories and lessons that I will carry with me long after I return home. I hope to bring these lessons into my future social work practice by remembering the importance of listening, staying open to different perspectives, and learning from the people I work alongside. I know that the experiences and connections I have made here will continue to shape the kind of social worker I want to become.