June 6, 2026
Nearing the End
It sure is a beautiful thing to have people to cry over.
From crying with my American friends as I said goodbye the day before I left for my exchange year, to crying with my Italian friends as we think about how little time we have left together, I've realized that although both moments were filled with sadness, I feel incredibly grateful. Grateful that I have so many people to love, and that saying goodbye to them is so difficult.
At the end of May, all of the exchange students in district 2060 went to the district Rotary conference, and afterwards we had our last official rotary event where we went zip lining and rafting. At the last dinner (where we ate pizza and gelato of course) they gave us back the letters we had written for ourselves at the very first Rotary event in September. It was so strange reading back through my goals and hopes for the year and realizing how much I have grown, and how this year has surpassed all of my expectations.
My last day of school was June 5. It was a gloomy day, and sprinkling as I walked out of the school with my friends for the last time. I felt a mix of sadness as this chapter came to a close, along with a little bit of joy because summer vacation had finally begun.
I watched in amazement as the fifth year students sprayed bottles of champagne and cheered in the street together, celebrating the end of their years at school. It was a moment filled with excitement, and accomplishment that made the gloominess vanish.
I have one week until the Euro Tour begins. Before then, I have an Italian certification exam, and I plan to spend the rest of the time with the people I love.
This exchange has been filled with so many beautiful new experiences, people, and memories. So although the past few days have brought some tears, I am so grateful that I had the chance to know these people, even if it was only for a year.
Because in the end, the sadness of saying goodbye is proof of how lucky I was to have them in my life in the first place.