The past two weeks in San Pedro have unfolded at a slower, more deliberate pace than usual. With most of my coworkers, including my boss, out of town, I’ve had the rare opportunity to experience this space more independently. While the office felt quieter and the rhythm of daily tasks more relaxed, I found this time to be valuable in a different way. It gave me the space to focus on personal goals I had been putting off—goals that often get buried under the noise and busyness of everyday responsibilities.
Living in San Pedro continues to be a unique and enriching experience. I’ve enjoyed immersing myself in this new culture and environment, but I’m also learning how easy it is to be so present in the moment that future planning can slip away. If there’s one thing this experience has taught me, it’s that time is moving quickly. With hopes of pursuing a master’s degree in Fall 2026, I’m reminded that preparation must begin now, reaching out to professors, drafting application essays, and organizing the many requirements that come with this next chapter. My hope during this season is to become more disciplined in my dreams, knowing that much of my success so far has come from thoughtful planning.
Beyond professional and academic aspirations, I’ve been navigating another reality—loneliness. Some days here feel heavy with the absence of my community. I miss the ease of being known, of not having to explain myself or justify how I think or feel. I miss the familiarity and security that come with longstanding relationships. Though I’ve met some amazing people and have experienced genuine moments of connection, there are still days when I feel like an outsider—unsure of whether I’m truly welcome or simply tolerated. Trying to integrate myself into the lives and plans of others can feel invasive at times, like I’m intruding rather than belonging.
Even so, I’m incredibly grateful for my roommate, Sydney. Her presence has been grounding and consistent in the midst of this transition. We’ve created a nightly ritual of sharing dinner while watching an episode of Gilmore Girls, which I’ve never seen before. She’s brought a sense of home into this unfamiliar place, and I’m confident that our friendship will continue long after my time here ends.
My life has shifted in so many small but meaningful ways since arriving here, from the foods I eat to the hobbies I’ve taken up in my free time. More than anything, I feel a strong desire to grow—to learn, explore, and embrace the challenge of adapting to a space that wasn’t built with me in mind. That challenge, though uncomfortable, has helped me develop a deeper appreciation for the life I’ve left behind and the new opportunities ahead.
Though these last two weeks may have felt quieter, I’m learning to value the slow seasons. They offer space for reflection on both the joyful and difficult moments and allow me to share my journey with honesty and gratitude.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10