I really did not want to leave. In fact, I even debated what the consequences would be if I skipped the trip, but before I could even seriously consider making that drastic decision, the day snuck up on me.

Aside from the professors, I knew of only a handful of people going on the trip, a handful knew of me, but we did not truly know each other. I was prepared to embrace the pathetic, loner role that I had gotten quite good at portraying over my sophomore year of college.

You see, my freshman year was filled with so many circumstances that turned me off of the whole community aspect of college. I was to blame for some of those circumstances; whereas, other people were to blame for the rest. Some were blown way out of proportion on my part, and others were legitimate issues. Either way, I let them affect me and tear me down in ways that drowned my heart in bitterness and despair. This bitterness and despair prevented any optimism and excitement from flowing from my spirit as we traveled from the campus, to the airport, and finally to the Dellenback Center in Washington D.C.

I had not really spoken a word to anyone by the time we arrived at the Dellenback Center. I had become a professional at being arrogant in my standoffishness through the year, and this circumstance was no different to me. Shortly after we arrived, I was sitting in the student conference area, dreading the rest of the week and thinking about the shows I was going to watch on Netflix in my room while everyone else would go out to explore the District of Columbia. But the unexpected stopped me in my pitiful train of thought. “Hey, we’re going to go walk around the city and maybe grab some groceries, if you would like to join us.” The words seemed to flow off her lips and be received through my ears in slow motion, yet my spirit leaped inside me, knocking bitterness and despair off their feet. “Yeah, I would love to.” I do not even know how the words managed to come out of my mouth. It almost shocked me, but at the same time, I felt almost relieved. I did not want to be a loner. I did not want to be arrogant or pathetic. I did not want to spend my entire week in D.C. watching Netflix in my room. I wanted to live. I wanted Austin to come back to life.

I mean, who would have thought that a simple invitation from a former co-worker would have sparked such a chain reaction in my heart, spirit and soul. A heart, spirit and soul that yearns and lives for raw conversation, whether it be one of conflict resolution and friendship construction with a current coworker in line at Subway at nine in the evening or one of mystery and discovery with an individual whose sophomore year was filled with similar emotions and issues that I had also been experiencing in mine. It was encouraging and inspiring, especially after someone else stepped in and encouraged the both of us with a wise analogy. I never would have guessed that that simple conversation would have led to two strong friendships and an opportunity this next year that I never thought I would get again.

I was reminded that opportunities exist everywhere. The trick is to take those opportunities, even when they seem risky. For example, when playing Mafia, I had to take the risk of calling out someone who I had known of for two years through mutual friendships, even though we never really had an existing friendship of our own. However, after I took that risk, chaos ensued in the game and the beginning of a friendship started in our lives. The greater the risk, the greater the reward. Take exercise, for example. I never would have taken the risk of going out on a run with a group of people, but because of the friendships I was building, I decided to take that painful risk. I could not keep up with them for long, but I wanted to extend a special thank you to the one who ran beside me until the pain in my legs drove me to slowing down. You are the real MVP, along with the one who sparked the entire group bonding through the game of fishbowl up on the roof on our first night together. Washington Week had such an impact on my life that it filled me with the desire to lead the group next year, if the opportunity presents itself, and if it was not for that initial invitation in Dellenback at the start of the trip, I never would have been given the honor of developing a friendship with someone as crazy and loud as me, only to seven days later find out that we share the same birthday!

The trip revived me in ways that I did not expect or anticipate. It was ironic. By the time I arrived home, I had the same feeling I had when I departed earlier that week. I really did not want to leave.