Well, let me first start by saying that I love New York University. Even though they get on my nerves and their financial aid office is always trying to pull some shananigans with my aid, I still LOVE my school. But honestly, I think American education is a bit too institutionalized. Our ideologies have managed to infiltrate our educational systems and freedom of speech really hasn’t been FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

At the University of London School of Oriental and African Studies, I have been exposed to all types of students. Yes, it is typical for me to meet Italian & African socialists or students who believe that maybe communism wasn’t that bad, and no one looks at them like they’re crazy. Most of these students have studied and worked with communities in Asia and Africa, which are experiencing corrupt governments and suffering from poverty.  And NO not ALL African nations are poor, but these students have a WORLD view on politics unlike a NATION view most American students contain. I can appreciate having socialists and communists in my classes and at my dinner table because although I do believe in capitalism, I more so believe in freedom of thought and freedom of mental expansion. I think we as Americans tend to tune out the rest of the world and believe that everyone wants a democratic government like ours. As Governor Palin conveniently stated on McCain’s foreign policy plan in her interview with Katie Couric, “we will spread democracy to every nation that wants it.” UMMMMMM how about NO, it’s the “save the world attitude” that the U.S. has adopted that got us into all this mess in the first place. I’m a firm believer in grass roots revolutions and politics. It is the people’s responsibility to fight for what they want. No one came over from another country when African-Americans were fighting for their rights and said here let me bomb your government so you can receive your rights. We fought for it and we continue to fight for it. The U.S. needs to take two steps back and think about our presence and reputation in the world because currently, we are practicing modern day imperialism (the crowd goes OUCH, Ari that was harsh).

But getting back on topic (I seem to be very politically sensitive these days), studying abroad at the University of London SOAS has really given me a new perspective. The experiences of engaging with worldly open-minded intellectuals about politics, education, finance, etc. is INVALUABLE. It definitely has further molded my views of the world. I wish every NYU student took advantage of this opportunity because living in an American bubble doesn’t allow you to truly understand our position in the world or give you a global eduation.

Ari

It’s amazing how you think you know it all. God never ceases to amaze me when he literally presents a new chapter of experiences in my life. Primarily, I decided to start this blog as a space for communication between myself and my loved ones. However, I hope I’ll some day be able to reflect on all that I have wrote and perhaps finally write my first book, which I have been talking about doing for ages! Upon arriving in London, after massive personal struggles that I won’t air out just yet (gotta save some stuff for my book readers!), I recognized that my definition of life was purely wrong. In every way that I had assumed I had life figured out, I hadn’t. The definition of my career, what & who meant the world to me, living freely, and most importantly walking on faith… ALL WRONG. For one, I managed to make my flight to London after picking up my UK student visa an hour & a half before my plane boarded. Just imagine driving through NY rush hour traffic in a town car with 4 suitcases and a panicked driver who is trying his best to have you make an international plane that is scheduled to leave in 2 hours. Chaos! However, after a few words of inspiration from some close friends and speaking to all my relatives before fastening my seatbelt on Air India, I realized that this entire experience was a blessing and an opportunity for redefinition. The final sign before leaving the U.S. that my trip to London had a purpose was when I opened up Letters to a Young Sister: DeFine Your Destiny by Hill Harper. I had started the book a month ago and never finished, but the words of Marianne Williamson jumped off the first page I opened up to.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask oursleves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? And as long as we let our own light sine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

So if our goal in life should be to liberate others, taking care of ourselves becomes our first step to success. If we must first liberate ourselves, then stages of redefinition must continuously occur until we get it right. It’s a continuous process since none of us are perfect, but not redefining your purpose at all puts a repugnant hold on those you were put on earth to bless. In the mind of this young 19 year old writer, I see the fufillment of my purpose as beyond destined. In the words of Alfre Woodard, it is my heritage to stride bodly through this world, living my dreams, and comforting others; to inspire, to laugh, and to dance. We are descendents of women who have built and suckled generations, so nothing but strength and tenacity should flow through my heart and veins. With love and inspiration, this is only the beginning.