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Italy hit me like a train. I had traveled to Costa Rica, Mexico, Russia, and 48 states. But nothing prepared me for Italy. I had applied to the school summer of 2017, not expecting more than an acceptance letter (for the following spring), I quickly forgot about it. Late August 2017 Harvey hit Southeast Texas, but more than that, it destroyed my house. Left with nothing more than a few articles of clothing, life was bare, and I was dropping out of school to get on my feet and hopefully back in a house. However the day the water started to recede, I got an email from the school in Italy offering a full ride scholarship if I could get there in seven days. I. was. shocked. I had to go! Freaking out I told my mom and her response was "wow, you need to find out details" and her second was "how much money do you have?" I had $1200. no more and no less. A good friend covered my flight and I had to pay $500 for housing. leaving me $700 for 3 months. Needless to say, I got on the damn plane. School had already started and I was two weeks behind. Art supplies cost about $250, leaving me $450 to live on. I cut every corner, and I decided to take a trip to Austria for 4 days. it cost $240 about with bus, housing, and food. My budget for 3 months quickly became nothing. I ate pasta with a little pesto or a baked potato with salt almost everyday. I think I gained 15 pounds... I come from a family of being independent and self sufficient, so of course I didn't ask for any help, I wanted to manage on my own. It was crazy, I had hardly any clothes and the temperature dropped to 25 degrees F early November. It was freezing, I was broke, and life was good. I was there all of September through December. It gave me a new love for school and when I got home I haven't hardly put down my passport. I work several jobs so I can save and go. I have been to over 10 countries sense fall of 2017. I am still in university and I graduate May 2020 (two months)! I plan to go somewhere when I graduate. I am a Studio Art Photographer. I work with identity of self and people. I love culture, engaging, and learning new things. I don't think I will every put my passport down. My passport has become a part of me. Whether I get this scholarship or not, I will be somewhere, eating an orange and journaling of the insanely beautiful world we live in today.