This is a long one, so I will begin by inviting you into the pages of my journal. Despite my hesitation to share this, my sincere hope is that it will inspire at least one person to pursue their dreams. May you navigate the uncertainties of life like a wave, letting faith and hope be the lifeboat guiding you through it.

It was my birthday earlier this week, and between the many celebrations, I found myself reflecting on the years that led me to where I am today. It is truly amazing how a meticulously planned and picky person like me got to experience such a surprising and serendipitous journey this far! Contemplating this, made me realize the perfect pace in which life seems to happen. It made me realize that when trusting God, and putting in the work, things can fall into place even when everything seems to be going in a different direction than you had prepared for.

I was 14 and I had a plan. I envisioned completing high school in my hometown, pursuing architecture at a Federal university in Brazil, then obtaining a master’s degree in Germany, and eventually living out a fairytale of a life somewhere in the world. However, the very next year, my life took an unexpected turn.

At 24, here is what I learned: life is far from linear. A fact that I now embrace and appreciate. Yet, at 16, having relocated states twice in six months, entered a competitive technical school, and made a whole new group of friends, the thought of moving to another country and leaving everything behind was not an option. Not very surprisingly, at that age, and as immature as I didn’t know I was, my parents did not give me a choice. We were moving! In fact, my entire house, including books and utensils, was ON SALE for anyone interested.

As the next weeks followed, while my mom packed and sold my entire house, our car, and took care of all of the in-betweens, I was out partying and purposefully failing in school, since that semester wouldn’t count once I started Junior year all over again in the US. I had not understood then, God’s blessings and care in my life. I could not see how, through the changes and turmoils, He had been opening up the doors for us, in a perfect manner.

Finally in Massachusetts, starting junior year as a newcomer turned out to be an interesting experience. I made friends, most of whom could speak Portuguese since I wouldn’t dare to speak my less-than-perfect English in public unless I absolutely had to. Perfectionist much? When it came to applying to universities— I was taught to dream big and work hard. Ignoring the many advices to stick with community colleges, I applied everywhere and got into many, but how I would afford any of those schools was the next challenge. 

Like everything up to this point in my life, we lead in faith. 

I started paying monthly installments for tuition months in advance. Still, it was during my first week in school; standing in a train station, with my savings account close to hitting rock bottom, that I finally learned to surrender all of my anxieties and expectations onto the feet of the One who lead me there in the first place. Only then did I finally see my life unfold in ways that this care was undeniably present around me, daily. My journey, from that day on, has been meticulously guided, and even when things haven’t gone my way, the surprises that come out of the hardships are often far better than my initial plans. 

Through a series of tiny miracles that I still can’t fully explain, I completed all four years of school. Despite a demanding schedule—constantly on the move, minimal sleep—I graduated cum-laude with no debt, also having spent my last semester abroad in Barcelona, which is really where I was leading to with this long and intertwined introduction.

Four years before, when I decided to go to school in Boston, not knowing how I would afford it, my dreams of studying in Germany seemed distant, particularly after my school’s abroad program was canceled due to COVID. Nevertheless, life can be surprisingly gifting sometimes, and things unfold surpassing our understanding. During my final year, the perfect opportunity arose—a Study Abroad program in Girona, Spain, with trips to Berlin and the South of France.

By some insane miracle, my best friend and I were two of the twelve people chosen for this trip, I had someone willing to fund my trip so I could pay after graduating and I was in the best state of mind I have ever been for doing something like that.

And so the preparations began! I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to finally visit my grandma in Germany for the first time. I could also finally travel to Munich, the city I dreamed of studying in and always wanted to visit. Perfect timing! Breaking the rules, and making everyone in my school program appalled and a little mad, I boarded a plane by myself to spend five days on a solo trip to Munich and twenty days up North with my grandma, before finally meeting up with my class in Barcelona nearly a month later. One of the best decisions of my life! 

Forgive me, but here is where I will cut this story short, because if I spend the time to tell all of the amazing things that I was allowed to experience during that time, this post could easily turn into a book, and my purpose for sharing it now is another. To inspire you to go do something crazy! Or just believe in the process and continue working towards your dream, with whatever life has given you, because trust me, the means can change in a second, and new doors are constantly opening, you just need to be ready for it.

From the four months that changed my life, here are the three most significant lessons I want to leave with you:

1. A Solo Trip has the Power to Open your mind and break you free!

My spontaneous trip to Munich shattered my limiting fears and beliefs. Wandering without a fixed plan, immersing myself in the unknown, and dining alone at a restaurant for the first time liberated me. It all set the tone for the months ahead, where I let myself take full advantage of every hour and every place, diving headfirst into each experience and each person that I met.

2. Spending time with locals is the only way to fully experience a city and it will enrich your perspective so much more than guided tours and fancy reservations.

The time spent with my grandma in Germany, shopping at local farmer’s markets, walking to her church on Sundays, and taking laps around the park, which had a palace casually sitting within its walls, was one of the richest experiences I have ever had. We did all of the normal things of everyday life and I loved every second of it. Also- the days I spent walking Paris with my godmother’s marked old map of the city, where I walked in the cold for miles and miles stopping at the smallest cafes and getting into the museum for free with her address, or eating Kings cake in the morning just to find out that she had purposefully looked for the slice with the hidden charm, just so I could experience that before I left France. These are the kinds of moments that just don’t happen when all of your focus is on the next stop or the next attraction.

3. Studying abroad is not for everyone, and it wasn’t for me! Traveling on the other hand…

It’s not that I didn’t study, or didn’t do anything at all, it’s just that I decided to do EVERYTHING that I could, all at once; making the four months I had seem like a lifetime. There were just so many better options of things to do than going to every single class, giving my best to all of the assignments, and putting in the usual insane amount of hours into making a model look like the building I’m designing… you know, just too many distractions, pretty places, foods to try, and people to meet.

Don’t get me wrong, I learned a lot during that semester, but it was a different focus– more about experiencing the spaces and real-life skills than technical or theoretical concepts. And I do not regret any of it, except for the many weekends I spent traveling all around and exploring other countries, and how very little I ended up getting to know of Spain. Which was a lot, but not enough! Probably the reason why I have an infinite urge to move there, every single day!

It is incredible how many lifetimes you can fit within just four months. More than collecting places, traveling is about collecting moments, and experiences, meeting amazing people, and opening yourself up to new things. I experienced incredible tiny love stories, tried some amazing dishes, slept in monasteries, hostel floors, and many, many bus & airplane & train seats and those will forever be treasured memories that made me into who I am today.

Everything that came after that continues to add to this mosaic of a life, and somehow even better fairytale than the one I dreamed of at 14. A lot more to tell, but I will stop myself here, leaving you to dwell and dream about how you will let all of what I shared change the way you have been going about life and working towards your dreams.

I certainly believe that we can do anything we put our minds to, but it is even better when life surprises us with new dreams and a new road. And I wish that upon you! I hope you can open yourself up to new experiences, and be reminded that even through the hard moments, everything happens for a reason! If you haven’t yet heard this today– you are not alone! You are special, and there is a purpose for your life.  

With love, Marina.