By Mila Johanna Papini. Cover Mila Johanna Papini
Have you ever wondered whether you are actually doing enough? Or found yourself wishing you had more time to do all the things you dream about, only to end up trying to do everything at once and feeling completely overwhelmed? I think many of us have experienced that pressure to constantly be productive, especially in environments where everyone seems to be building the “perfect” future. At some point, however, I started realizing that personal growth does not always come from doing more, but from learning how to fully appreciate and embrace the opportunities already in front of us. Sometimes, the experiences that initially feel the most unfamiliar or uncomfortable end up teaching us the most about ourselves.
How Being Bilingual Shapes Your Identity
Being bilingual and growing up between Italian and German culture has always felt both enriching and complicated at the same time. On one side, having access to two languages and two different ways of living allowed me to see the world from multiple perspectives at a very young age. At the same time, however, it often created the feeling of never fully belonging to one place. When you grow up between cultures, you sometimes feel as if part of you constantly has to adapt depending on where you are, the language you speak, or the environment surrounding you. For a long time, I saw this more as a confusion than a strength. While many people grow up with a clear sense of home and identity, international students or people raised between cultures often experience something much more fluid. Yet over time, I started realizing that this ability to adapt is actually one of the most valuable forms of personal growth. Constantly being exposed to different mentalities, habits, and lifestyles teaches you to observe more carefully, communicate differently, and become more open to perspectives that may initially feel unfamiliar. More than a limitation, it slowly becomes a way of understanding the world with greater depth and flexibility, learning to navigate situations without needing everything to feel immediately familiar.
Why Studying Abroad Changes Your Perspective
Traveling, especially when it turns into a longer experience such as a year abroad after high school or even later in life after working, can feel both exciting and unsettling at the same time. Moving into a new environment where you do not immediately feel connected to the place, the people, or the rhythm of everyday life can be challenging at first. There is often a sense of distance or uncertainty that comes with starting something completely new, and it is easy to focus on what feels unfamiliar rather than what is being gained. However, over time, these experiences often reveal their value in ways that are not immediately visible. Even when a place does not fully feel like “home,” it can still become a space of growth, reflection, and discovery. What makes these experiences so powerful is not necessarily the feeling of belonging, but the process of learning that happens along the way. Being exposed to different ways of living, working, and thinking naturally expands your perspective and makes you more aware of your own strengths and limitations. Even moments that feel uncomfortable or uncertain contribute to shaping a stronger sense of independence and adaptability. I do not think this means that we should accept situations we truly
do not like, but rather that we can learn to recognize value in experiences even when they do not look perfect at first. In many cases, what we learn along the way becomes more meaningful than the situation itself, because it teaches us that growth often comes from simply allowing ourselves to experience something fully, without immediately judging its worth.
What We Take From Every New Experience
This idea of growth through experience does not only apply to traveling, but also to other aspects of life, especially when it comes to working experiences or simply the opportunities we are given as students. Whether it is starting a new job, moving into a new environment, or taking on something outside of what feels familiar, each situation carries something valuable within it, even if we do not fully recognize it in the moment. I sometimes find myself thinking back to certain experiences in the past and realizing how easy it was to take them for granted, only to understand later how much more present I could have been. Those moments, once gone, cannot be recreated in the same way, which is why I have started to appreciate what is happening more consciously, rather than only
reflecting on it afterwards. In a way, traveling and new experiences teach you exactly this: to expand your perspective, to open your mind, and to see life with a wider sense of possibility and creativity. It becomes less about waiting for the “right” moment and more about recognizing that every stage already carries something meaningful within it. Being in a position where you are able to study, move, work, or simply explore different paths is already an opportunity in itself, even when it feels uncertain or challenging. For this reason, I believe it is important to not postpone experiences or underestimate the value of what is currently within reach. Real strength does not come from having a perfectly defined path, but from the ability to fully engage with what you are living, and to appreciate it while it is happening, not only once it has passed.
