Grace Wiczek '23 RGLP Reflection: Adapting to the Discomfort

During our Boston trip, I became very aware of my own discomfort. It dawned on me that I had never been on the subway, nor had I been to such thought-provoking and vulnerable performances, and nor had I had the chance to really explore a city. I grew up in a small town, where you ran into someone you knew during almost every outing, public transportation was limited, and cultural diversity was low. Compared to my peers in high school, I always felt I had a better understanding of different cultures and the accompanying values and customs given my upbringing and open-mindedness. Yet walking around Boston, I quickly became aware that an open mind and more culturally conscious upbringing did very little for me when thrown into the heart of a city. I had no idea what I was doing. Thinking back to the weekend, I easily could have taken a back seat, timidly following the rest of the group, but instead I took that discomfort in stride, taking time to laugh at myself as I walked around Boston with a big smile and a google map in hand.

I learned/was reminded of several things from the Boston trip: 1. Just because I haven't done it, doesn't mean I can't do it and 2. We must actively seek out other cultures and experiences to expand our comfort zone. Given these two takeaways, I came to have a better understanding of what it means to be adaptable. Prior to the trip, I always viewed adaptability as our ability to adjust to the current circumstances that are thrown our way. However, now, I find this definition extremely limiting in a cultural context. We, as leaders, must be in a constant state of adapting and learning, to better connect and understand people from all walks of life; therefore, we must seek out those opportunities that foster not just discomfort but growth. In a cultural context, adaptability is asking questions, trying new things, deviating from our normal way of life, listening to others, and welcoming the discomfort, but most importantly, finding those opportunities for discomfort and growth on our own. In today's day and age especially, adaptability has become an extremely valuable skill given how connected and diverse our world is- as there is nothing we do today that is not influenced by some culture, be it your own, a friend's, a coworker's, or a business partner's. As much as adaptability is the ability to adjust and change, it is also the commitment to continuing to adjust and change (our worldview, opinions, knowledge, etc.) as we go throughout our lives. 

All in all, I am extremely grateful for my time at RGLP, from the people I have met to all the lessons I have learned. I am especially grateful for my newfound appreciation for discomfort, and I look forward to all there is to learn and experience in my remaining time at Dartmouth and what lies afterward.