This is a response to the topic above.

One risk I took that I do not regret was crossing the ocean to pursue my studies in the United States. Leaving home meant stepping away from everything familiar—language, family presence, cultural comfort, and the everyday certainty of belonging. At the time, I did not fully know what I would find on the other side of that decision. I only knew that learning sometimes requires us to move—not just intellectually, but physically and emotionally.

Studying at Berkeley and now at UCLA has been more than an academic journey. It has been a process of discovering new ways to think, new communities to belong to, and new versions of myself I had yet to discover. Living in America taught me how to navigate difference with curiosity instead of fear, and how to carry my background with pride rather than hesitation. I learned that crossing borders is not only about geography—it is also about imagination and courage.

There were moments of uncertainty, homesickness, and adjustment. But there were also moments of deep connection, mentorship, and opportunity that reminded me why I came. Each classroom conversation, each unexpected friendship, and each step toward my academic goals made the journey meaningful.

Looking back, I realize the risk was never just about distance. It was about believing that growth was waiting somewhere unfamiliar—and choosing to meet it. I would make that decision again without hesitation. Now America has become home away from home.