Gripping my mother’s hand and feeling the lipstick stain on my cheek gave a sense of relief while we landed. A land unknown on the other side of the hemisphere, we had arrived to our destination of Thailand. Initially, I did not know what to expect. As a high school junior, I was comfortable in my New York City bubble and never attempted to experience the world outside of it. I glanced outside the airplane window, amazed by the vivid colors of the morning sky, and knew that this was going to be an encounter of a lifetime.
I was always one to preach a lifestyle of adventure in unity with my thirst for knowledge. My curiosity sought not only traditional scholarly studies, but hands on experiences. However, I struggled to act upon my curiosities in ways I would’ve liked due to the lack of these experiences. Because it is rare for book studies and real-life occurrences to conjoin in the educational system, I valued the opportunity I was given to learn about an entirely different lifestyle and culture. Throughout my two week journey I visited century old temples, communicated with natives from the mountains and rural areas, came to understand the political climate, and adjusted to social customs and traditions. There were many fascinating moments, like learning about the history of the country and seeing the Golden Triangle of Laos and Myanmar. Many laughs were shared when talking to the locals and complimenting them on their excellent cooking skills. Despite all of the positivity, I had a sudden realization that I was travelling throughout a developing country filled with strife and suffering. Dirt filled the wrinkles of the elderly and blood pierced from their lips from the dryness of the sun. I was conceptualizing a new reality that would deeply affect me for years to come.
The economic failure and political tension within the country was a difficult pill to swallow, but the Thai people thought differently. Although instances like their beloved king passing, and his controversial son taking power, the people remained respectful to their deceased king by wearing dark colors and visiting temples with flowers to place underneath his portrait. Citizens remained humble and content with each other and their inner selves. There was an abundance of rice workers and cotton pickers who worked strenuous and exhausting 22 hour days, yet these same individuals remained with prominent laugh lines as they ate spicy dinners with their families. From this moment on, I was educated enough to know that they believed and practiced Buddhism. This was my first introduction to the religion, and one that would change how I act and my views on life. One of the Buddha’s teachings is that one must let go of materialism and riches because those things cannot bring genuine happiness. This idea was evident in the public as they did not care for expensive things that would materialistically give them value. They instead valued experiences, people they cared about, and real immaterial teachings that would bring benefit to their lives. The philosophy and spirituality of Buddhism is what brought about the kindness and gentleness of the people. These ideas sparked a great interest in me to find and uphold the inner workings of my own kind and gentle manners. With these beliefs rooted into the soil of my brain, I decided to become a Buddhist myself, endlessly reading about it’s teachings and history. I wanted to write my own interpretations of it when I returned back to my New York City bubble.
When I witnessed the harsh reality of the outside world and what it had to offer, my mentality entirely changed. This encounter in itself started to greatly develop my character. Seeing the faces of severe anguish with a cheerful mentality changed my entire perspective on life. I realized that most of the issues I faced day-to-day were not important in comparison, and that the life I had was a blessing. That test I didn’t do so well on or the boy who didn’t like me back suddenly vanished. I desired to become a more compassionate person, and seek humanity within others. Through this, I began to heavily read and educate myself about Buddhism. The more I read, the more I began to like who I was becoming. I gained so many positive emotions throughout my literacy journey, and because of this, I began to write poetry and analytical essays of things I agreed with, or was skeptical of. Through my discovery of this religion, I began to also read philosophy and different sectors of that discipline. I gained deep insight into the world and who I was within. With my newly found courage, I knew what I had wanted to accomplish in the microscopic amount of time I had in this world.
I yearned to influence others through Buddhism and philosophy, the same way I had been during my journey. I wanted to do this through my writing, whether it be a more artistic or structured point of view, because I believe that reading can truly help influence people and allow them to decide and think for themselves. I strived to become a leader not only in my academics and activities, but also in my personal life by helping others. I have come to realize that this experience guided me in pursuing countless opportunities, allowing me to seek knowledge and maturity in a variety of settings. I said yes to almost anything, like exploring New York City at night or going to all kinds of lectures that I previously had no interest in. I stopped arguing with others and instead began to rationalize their point of views. I was kinder and more open-minded. The experience I had helped me think outside of the box, allowing me to see the world and life through a different lens. Traveling to Thailand allowed me to seek the happiness I so desperately hoped for. The simple solution to this was to work hard, research deeply on the philosophies that interested me, and say yes to more opportunities, despite the struggles, potential fears, and uncertainty they may bring.
The foreign atmosphere that I discovered and immersed myself in for several weeks would permanently leave a mark on me. I began to change, viewing life in a broader and more philosophical sense, which gave me the maturity and sense of self I needed at the time. It affected my day-to-day life, as I started to treat people better and think of my actions before pursuing them. It molded me into a better and more intellectual person. Through the power of literacy, I was able to expand my viewpoints and even form more of my own. I hope to continue this journey by influencing others in the same light, and changing myself and others for the brighter through literacy and writing. I was enlightened by my time in Thailand, and hope to enlighten others one day.
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