There’s a kind of stillness in New Zealand that feels almost sacred. I felt it most in Queenstown—standing above the lake as dusk painted the sky in soft pinks and violets, the air crisp and silent except for the wind whispering across the water. I remember thinking: This is it. This is peace.
Before coming here, I thought inner peace was something you reached after everything in life finally made sense. After the deadlines were done, the goals achieved, the uncertainty resolved. But what I learned in New Zealand is that peace isn’t something you find once—it’s something you return to again and again. It lives in the quiet moments between everything else.
It’s in the slow mornings with coffee overlooking the mountains.
It’s in the long walks when the world feels bigger than your worries.
It’s in the laughter shared with friends from different corners of the world, the ones who remind you that connection doesn’t need permanence to be meaningful.
Studying abroad here has been more than an adventure—it’s been a transformation. The Global Bachelor’s Program at GW gave me the opportunity to live, study, and grow in places I once only dreamed about. Each country has changed me in a different way, but New Zealand touched something deeper. It reminded me that success isn’t just about moving fast—it’s about learning when to slow down, breathe, and notice the life happening around you.
There’s a humility to this landscape. The mountains don’t rush; the rivers don’t question their direction. Being here taught me that peace doesn’t come from control—it comes from surrender. From trusting that you’re exactly where you’re meant to be, even if you don’t know what’s next.
I’m endlessly grateful to The George Washington University and the Global Bachelor’s Program for opening the world to me—for letting me experience what learning feels like beyond the classroom, in the wild beauty of new places and cultures. It’s surreal to say that visiting New Zealand had always been one of my biggest dreams—and I finally got to check it off my list. But what I didn’t expect was how deeply it would change me.
This country taught me that inner peace isn’t a destination—it’s a rhythm, a way of being. It’s the quiet courage to let go of perfection, the grace to be present, and the gratitude to stand where your younger self once only hoped to be.
As I carry these memories forward, I know they’ll stay with me far beyond the mountains and lakes. Because New Zealand didn’t just give me a view—it gave me a new way of seeing.
Emily Huang
Fall 2025 – GW Exchange - University of Sydney
Spring 2025 – GW Global Bachelor's Program - Asia-Pacific Semester
Elliott School of International Affairs
International Affairs & Business Double Major
The Global Bachelor’s Program