How do I even begin to wrap up my days in this beautiful, hyggeligt place? Yes, it’s the first of May, and I have officially less than two weeks left in Denmark. I can feel my heart sinking in my throat upon just typing that sentence. Being here has taught me so much. Living in Denmark has brought a degree of balance to my life that I have never experienced before. It has taught me that it’s okay to say no to the constant pressure to do better, and do more. That while expectations are all well and good, they should come from a genuine you and not your immediate surroundings. I have learned that it is acceptable, necessary and even brave, to come home from work at 4pm and spend the evening with family, petting dogs and eating cake and treating myself gently.
I have learned that without the pressure to be constantly productive every minute of everyday, I am free to devote my energies towards both savoring the present- the tulips are particularly grand today- and bettering myself in the long term. I got an offer from an endocrinology and hypertension lab at Brigham and Women’s Hospital to do my undergraduate thesis research there, and so I will most likely be spending the summer exploring the aldosterone pathway and Boston simultaneously. I could never have pursued this opportunity without the time, self-assurance, and confidence that Denmark has given me. I am so grateful that it did.
I have so many people to thank for this experience and those to come. My parents, of course, for giving me, quite literally, Wellesley and the world. My wonderful host family, all of whom are sparkling examples of kind and welcoming individuals, and have made me feel truly at home here in a way no one else could. My academic advisor at Wellesley, for early morning Skype sessions and for believing in me even when I didn’t. As they say in Danish, tusind tak. Thousand thanks.
Leaving this place behind is honestly heart-wrenching. I hope that I can take the balance and calm of Denmark with me, but I’ll be the first to admit that I have little idea how. My thesis project, and the difficult course load of senior year loom like formidable objects in my future. But when I start to wonder how I can possibly handle them, I remind myself that I have complete control over what I prioritize. I will always love school and learning, but my study abroad experience has taught me that there is so much more to the world to cherish- if only I remember to deliberately seek it out.
Ever lovely yours,
Eleanor