My name is Alice Lagebrant and I am a GRSP student from Sweden. This year I have been studying at Brenau University, Gainesville, where I have taken classes in Psychology, Political science, and Graphic Design. I have also spent a lot of time with my host family living in Flowery Branch, with other GRSP students all around Georgia and also had some opportunities to see other parts of the US. To me, the most meaningful moments have been at home with different Rotarian host families, where they have invited me to many different discussions around the table. It has been very eye-opening to share other cultures perspectives, thoughts, and values and also meaningful for me both to learn how to really listen to understand something new but also how to share my own background. It has really been interesting to realize where our reasoning and norms are similar and where they are different. Meeting so many different people throughout the US, I have also had such an eye-opener regarding the many different ways of how to live your life and give back to your community. The future is certainly never a one-track run, there are many different routes and ways of living. This year has come to give me both time, perspective and experience to not only consider who I want to become and how I want to live my life, but also who I am and how I live my life. Because we are a lot like threes with annual rings – what we do today, does not only shape what we do tomorrow but also who we are tomorrow.

For my tomorrow, I am going back home to Sweden by mid-June, after some more traveling within the US, to work at a cardiology clinic over the summer. Thereafter, I am continuing my medical studies at Lund University and am planning to start a research project on cognitive neurology – something I through my classes in Psychology at Brenau, have learned that I am very interested in. I will also start a writing project since that is also something I have come to learn I really love doing. Sometimes passions are suppressed when we are just going by with our stressful lives and only by changing your perspectives and giving yourself the time to feel and reflect, you can truly find what you enjoy doing. I am very grateful for my time here, the people I have come to know and care for, for the experiences I have had and all the many lessons I have been taught.