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An Ongoing List of Books...

Ever since I can remember, I’ve always had a passion for picking up a book and reading. I don’t know if this motivation arose from my excitement in getting lost in a novel or a biography, or a yearning to learn more and more. Anyways, for a long time, I’ve logged the books I’ve read since the Summer of 2015 (going into my freshmen year of College) in my journal and, now, I want to post this online. Here is my ongoing list of books that I have read or am currently reading (check the [currenly] notation to identify the books now occupying my time]. Check out my list, which will continuously be updated, and feel free to leave comments about which books I should dive into next!

“If we encounter a man of rare intellect, we should ask him what books he reads.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Start Something that Matters: Blake Mycoskie-

The Soloist: Steve Lopez

Churchill: Paul Johnson

1984: George Orwell

Crazy Love: Francis Chan

Love Does: Bob Goff

The Freedom of Self-Forgiveness: Timothy Keller

Pilgrim’s Progress: John Bunyan

Let My People Go Surfing: Yvon Chouinard

Call of the Wild: Jack London

Possible: Stephan Bauman

The Giver: Louis Lowry

Zero to One: Peter Thiel

Start with Why - Simon Sinek

Blink: Malcolm Gladwell

Outliers: Malcolm Gladwell

Tipping Point: Malcolm Gladwell

East of Eden: John Steinbeck

Venture Deals: Brad Feld & Jason Mendelson 

Shoe Dog: Phil Knight

Of Mice & Men: John Steinbeck

David & Goliath: Malcolm Gladwell

Man’s Search for Meaning: Viktor Frankl

[Currently] Thirst: Scott Harrison

[Currently] Mountains Beyond Mountains: Tracy Kidder

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Study Abroad - A Debrief

After a long 3 and a half months of living in London and traveling throughout Europe, I’ve had time to sit down and introspect about the deeply formative and cool experience. Here are a couple of my main takeaways, highlights, and struggles that I thought back on while filling out an abroad profile for my college. Thought I’d share

(Arc De Triomphe - Paris)

1. How did studying abroad impact you?

Studying abroad forced me to shift out of my comfortable life in America and enabled me to broaden my global mindset. After arriving in Europe, it quickly became apparent that the people and the culture were just different. When I would leave London on weekend trips, I would also leave the familiarity of the English language. Taking that huge step out of my comfort zone was difficult at times and it would force me to attempt to talk to complete strangers. That experience of attempting to converse in a foreign language is tough and a bit humiliating, but it helped me gain a confidence in myself and a love and deep appreciation for the new cultures around me. Stepping out of familiarity into the unknown completely broadened my worldview and that knowledge gained is priceless.

(Touristy London Reds - London)

2. What was your most memorable experience while abroad?

Sorting through my thoughts about my memories abroad, I am realizing how incredibly fortunate and lucky I am to have embarked on this indescribable experience. Arriving in London with two suitcases in my hands and my backpack on my back, I had no idea what was in store for the spring semester. Over the next three and half months, I found myself wandering the canals of Amsterdam through a light snow, staring awestruck overhead at the Sistine Chapel in the Holy Vatican City, touring Westminster Abbey and observing the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Hamlet for my Historic London and Performing Arts classes, toasting Guinness with my buddies at Temple Bar on St. Patricks Day, biking aimlessly through the gorgeous Gardens of Versailles, and waving goodbye to my London friends at the London Bridge tube stop. Taking the semester to learn abroad at Cass Business School, to live life with many new friends, and to dive into foreign cultures all over Europe are the memories I will never forget.

(View from Bunkers - Barcelona)

3. What would you tell someone who has never heard about study abroad before?

I would say you have to go. Go somewhere. Go anywhere. During our college careers and our lives in general, I am a firm believer that people should take any chance to stretch their mind and expand their worldview. When I went to study abroad in a foreign country, I quickly shifted out of my comfortable life in College Park, for the first time, and took on the role of an active visitor, learner, and traveler. Across the pond in Europe, there is an energetic world full of different cultures, languages, and people that are yearning to be explored. From London, I weekly immersed myself in different countries, cities, and boroughs and was able to gain numerous amazing experiences and to meet incredible individuals along the way. Whether you are hearing about the UMD study abroad program for the first time or are on the fence about shipping overseas, I urge you to pack a suitcase (or two) and embark on a trip of a lifetime. Go meet new people, stretch your mind and comfort zone, and broaden your worldview.

(Cliffs of Moher - Ireland)

4. What was the hardest part about studying abroad that you didn't anticipate? How did you adjust or resolve this challenge? How did you demonstrate resiliency

One of the hardest difficulties to cope with is the time difference. In London, being 5 hours ahead of life in College Park really is not that bad, but it still makes it difficult to communicate with people at home. Whether it’s your family, a loved one, or your friends, it definitely can become tough and can make you feel isolated and lonely if you stay in your own bubble while abroad. However, I found that the remedy to this problem is to open your eyes to your new country and seek out friends. Abroad, especially for a semester, is to short of a time to waste. I urge you to look to meet new people and enjoy the culture at hand. Trust me, your friends and family will wait for you and I guarantee you can reach them if you really need to, but set your iPhone down for a bit and sink in the remarkable experience. (Also not being able to watch my Terps in the B1G Tourney during March Madness was a struggle too

(Duomo - Florence)

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Something New

*Repost: Posted back on March 25, 2018 on a blogspot. But then I realized this platform is immensely better...*

Whoa. This is new. Currently, I am sitting in my bed in my apartment in Soho, London and I've decided to create a blog. During my junior semester abroad, I have had time to think, travel, read and think. Time really isn't a thing over here... I have too much of it. Alas, I have decided to put pen to paper (or type to screen?) and create this word space. I don't tell many people this, but I am actually a huge journalist. I have two journals I keep with me on all my travels - one for my wandering thoughts and one for random notes - and I love to recap my adventures, concerns and a casual epiphany. I am not sure if I really want to share this blog with the world yet though. There is something very personal about shooting your thoughts out to the socially connected world so maybe I'll wait. (Ironically, by creating this blog, I have already taken that step.) Regardless, I love to ramble and figured that I might as well use this space to post my thoughts on the world, ideas and lord knows what. Thanks for bearing with me. Over the next couple days, I think I am going to share a few of my journals that I have kept on Evernote. I am excited about this project and hope it proves to be worthwhile and a help (to who I don't know). Well anyways, Thanks or as the Londoners say Cheers.