There are worse things
Everything is rumbling down
The pace of it
The visibility of it
Rumbling down
Down to the last second
Everyone knows your plans
Weight. Pressure.
Now you have to stick to your guns
You stand at the gate with a backpack and a suitcase
You say your good-byes
Despite your fear of heights, you take the steps
The jacket you wear tells your story
"Exchange Student.
American.
Naive."
As you flash your documents to the flight attendent and find your seat
You realize
You get to experience the languages, the cultures, the sunrises
You get to eat the foods, live the traditions, tell your stories
You get to help, teach, advocate
You get to inspire those around you to become worldy
You managed to postpone college for a year as an exchange student
There are worse things