Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is imagine that “crazy” version of life. The one that feels just out of reach, the one we quietly push away because it seems too good, too different, or too uncertain ever to be ours. It’s the life where you are fully aligned, deeply fulfilled, and no longer negotiating with your own happiness. And yet, despite how distant it may feel, that vision often holds who you are meant to become.

Independence is often described as the ability to do everything on your own. For me, independence has never been that simple. It has been something I’ve had to redefine over and over again—learning to hold onto my autonomy while also relying on others for the things I cannot do alone.

While independence may be your default, dependence is vital, and as much as it is important to rely on others, you must reciprocate as well. If someone in your community is in need, you help in any way you can. Remember what they have done for you, and try your best to return the favor.

The culmination of a grueling semester-long grind came to a screeching halt by something far more sinister.

The disconnect from our cultures is the near-universal immigrant child experience across the world.