Home Sweet Oxford

For the past few days, I have been trying to come up with the words to describe my Oxford experience.

Strangely enough, after countless essays, late nights hunching over working papers, and early mornings sipping caffeinated tea with a pencil in my hand, the right words are suddenly escaping me. How in the world do I convey the impact of such a life-changing opportunity?

Perhaps I will start with one of my favorite experiences during my time at Oxford: participating in a debate at the famous Oxford Union.

The debate chamber that night was filled with eager young students from every Oxford college and of every nationality. The debate topic: This House Believes the State Should Not Recognize Marriage. As, one by one, the guest speakers filed in to take their place at the front of the chamber, it was as though the busts of famous members that lined the walls were tilting their heads to watch, too.

Although I already had an opinion on the proposition, I tried to engage in this debate with an open mind. In doing so, I was completely floored by the poignant and articulate speakers to take the floor on both sides. Even the students who spoke when the floor opened to the general audience made impressive points. I found myself agreeing with both sides on some matters and disagreeing with both sides on others. Instead of remaining stoic and unmoving in my opinion, I found that my perspective evolved as the argument did.

In my first blog post, I wrote about my fear of and aversion to change. That fear has made me stuck in the past, nostalgic for people and places I could not experience anymore. I had resolved to spend this semester in the present, welcoming change and all of the new experiences that come with it.

Accepting change means accepting that people, places, experiences, and emotions are in constant flux. Nothing stays permanently the same; instead, they are endlessly moving and evolving. My opinions, preferences, and personality are not the same as when I stepped off the bus at Gloucester Green just over three months ago. Yet this scary change has actually ushered in new people and memories that I could have never dreamed of before.

I have embraced all of the beautiful change and wonderful experiences that this semester has brought. I only hope that whatever changes await me back home will be as glorious and confirming as this semester in Oxford has been.