T-minus 20 days: Hong Kong edition
There are less than 20 days until my flight to Hong Kong SAR. For now, I’m successfully fighting down the anxiety, but as time goes on, I can’t help but to worry (See graph below). As you can see, my panic levels are growing at an exponential rate, and it’s only a matter of time until I’m a shivering mess.
Jokes aside, I’m pretty nervous since this will be my first time traveling abroad on my own. Will I be able to handle the massive volumes of people, things and information coming at me in in Hong Kong? Will I even be able to deal with customs and jet lag? As the youngest on the trip, will I have enough sustainability experience to keep up with my class?
The trip and course to Hong Kong (called Cities, Sustainability and Public Policy) will be very intensive from what I’ve heard. We will be working with City University Hong Kong students to present a local problem and possible policy recommendations. I’m in the energy group and will have less than two weeks to research and finish my project, and then present it to the program directors, fellow students and city officials. Yikes, there go my panic levels again. High pressure and public speaking don’t mix too well with me.
I’ve made it pretty obvious that I’m really, really anxious about the trip as a whole. “Why do it, then?” you might ask. “Why place yourself in a high stress environment?”
One simple truth: I love rollercoasters. The speed, the rush, the adrenaline, all of it. Fear and excitement are one and the same, and somehow it’s exhilarating.
I’ve heard that the Hong Kong trip will be just as disorienting and thrilling.
The fear is there, yes, but there are so many things to look forward to. I’ve got a great group traveling with me, and I can’t wait to work and explore with them. Hong Kong has such a unique history and culture to offer, and I’m excited to immerse myself in them. Most importantly, I look to this trip as a means for self-improvement and self-discovery. I’m going to have a hands-on experience in sustainability, something that I think is crucial to my professional development. The work is difficult, and there’s a lot of pressure, but I’ve always liked a challenge.
In short: I’m a big ball of nerves and excitement, but I’m willing to push my comfort levels for professional, academic and personal growth.
I’m at the peak of the rollercoaster, and I’m ready to take the plunge.