8,474 Miles From Home

In my two years at Exeter, there have been various moments when my heart drifted elsewhere. Being 8,474 miles away from home was a difficult transition, but now that my time on this campus is coming to an end, I’m surprised at my desire for time to slow down—at least for a little while.

Looking back on my time here, I believe that I have grown a lot as a student, athlete and friend. As an international student, assimilating into a completely new culture felt awkward, and at times the process of trying to find a place to call my own was disheartening; but I have met some of the greatest people through this journey of self-identification.

A large takeaway from my time at Exeter is learning that everyone has their own baggage, and we should not be afraid to embrace that. It’s been said before, and will continue to be said, that no one is as perfect as they may seem. It is tempting to gloss over errors and uphold a gleaming self-image, especially under such a rigorous environment. It’s important to recognize your own limits, and know when to reach out and ask for help—it is perfectly okay to do so. I am thankful for my experiences at Exeter in making me a more confident person, to speak up, reach out and advocate for the things I value.

I think a lot of the sadness I went through from homesickness and feeling lost derived from attempts at pinpointing Exeter as my new home, geographically. I am glad to have redefined my understanding of home to be comprised of people and experiences that I’ve had the pleasure of crossing paths with. Thank you to the girls of Bancroft Hall for welcoming me with such open arms and for being my loyal sisters. Thank you, Ta Thanakornyothin ’17, Tanya Wongvibulsin ’17, Sara Michaels ’17, Pa Sukhum ’18, Don Assamongkol ’19, Sam Michaels ’19 and Dhanat Plewtianyingthawee ’19 for being my travel buddies and Thai family in America.

Thank you, Michaela Kivett ’16, Luz Lim ’16, Jade Moses ’16 and Connie Cai ’17 for being my number one supporters throughout the diving seasons. Thank you to Melody Nguyen ’16 and Stephanie Pan ’16 for bringing humor and brightness into my life. Thank you to Jennifer Shang ’16 for always being up for Laso and Stillwells, and for never letting me embarrass myself (well, not alone anyways)—you are an incredibly strong and beautiful person.

Being 8,474 miles away from home was a difficult transition, but now that my time on this campus is coming to an end, I’m surprised at my desire for time to slow down...

Thank you to my best friend Thomas Gallup ’16 for making me smile even when I don’t want to; wishing you all the best at Caltech. Thank you, Aunty Kyuson and Uncle Dave for welcoming me into your home and “adopting” me for these two years; I am going to miss hanging out with you all. Thank you, coach Farnum and coach Mills for pushing me and making me a stronger, braver person. Thank you, Ms. Dolan for believing in me from the start. Thank you, Ms. Zhao for helping me maintain my Mandarin and teaching me about life. Thank you, Ms. Phillips for understanding me even when I didn’t understand myself. Thank you, Mom and Dad for making my dreams come true.

I’d like to dedicate this senior reflection in memory of my late great-grandfather. It is truly a blessing that I had the opportunity to have crossed paths with you. Our family wouldn’t be where we are if it weren’t for you and your efforts in bringing us a better future.

Wishing the class of 2020 all the happiness and success! We did it!