The Evolution of Self: Embracing Change Without Losing Your Core

My first experience living in a different country came when I was 18. Thrilled to have been accepted at the African Leadership Academy (ALA), I was eager to embark on this new chapter of life far from home. Over two incredible years, I lived among a diverse group of outstanding students from across Africa, all striving to discover and nurture their spark to serve the continent as future leaders.

At the time, I was on a personal journey of self-discovery, searching for the real me. With the freedom to explore new interests, I ventured into modeling and created a self-love project that I shared on Instagram. With the help of my photographer friends and inspiration from Pinterest, I held personalized photoshoots and gave each series a unique theme. But I didn’t stop there. My passion for writing urged me to create a blog, so I taught myself how to develop a website using Wix. From scratch, I designed and launched Sunset Reflections, a platform to share my poetry, short stories, and personal reflections.

For my final presentation before graduating from ALA, I proudly showcased my journey of self-discovery through the self-love project. It was a transformative period for me, as I uncovered a side of myself that had long been hidden beneath the studious, academic persona others were accustomed to seeing. When graduation arrived, I felt a renewed sense of confidence and was ready to take on the next challenge: college life.

Three months later, I boarded a plane to Atlanta, GA, to begin my undergraduate studies at Emory University. Almost immediately, the question “Who am I?” resurfaced. Not only was I far from my home country, but I was also far removed from my culture and the people who had been so familiar to me. I felt like a drop of water in a vast ocean—small and unnoticeable.

The confidence I thought I had built over the past two years began to waver as I found myself in an even more diverse community. Thankfully, I was embraced by many wonderful people on campus, including professors, advisors, dormmates, and the international students’ office, where I worked as a front desk assistant throughout my four years of college.

As I juggled my part-time job and pursued majors in Psychology and Creative Writing, I shifted back into “study mode” to manage the academic demands. At the same time, I was navigating the many cultural adjustments that came with life in America. Even simple, everyday experiences felt foreign—how I pronounced words, how I ordered food or drinks, and how I made friends were all unfamiliar terrain.

With these changes came sacrifices. The blog I had poured my heart into during high school became obsolete; I barely had time to write for leisure. Modeling, another passion, also faded into the background.

Four years later, I graduated with dual degrees in Psychology and Creative Writing. It was an accomplishment I was deeply proud of, having persevered through such a demanding journey. My next step was a master’s program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, with the goal of becoming a mental health specialist. But one semester in, financial constraints forced me to cut my studies short. I returned home devastated, uncertain of what the future held.

Now, in 2025, I find myself revisiting the same question: “Who am I?” As I reflect on all my experiences, I’ve come to realize that the real me is ever-evolving. Life is full of unexpected changes, and adaptability is key.

We often lose things—or people—that we hold dear and expect to carry with us forever. But as long as we remain focused on inner growth, we never truly lose our core. That quiet voice inside, the one that helps you navigate life’s twists and turns, is what sustains you.

Change may feel uncomfortable, even painful, but it’s also a powerful tool for self-discovery. It reveals parts of us we may never have known existed. And so, while I may not have all the answers to the question “Who am I?” just yet, I know one thing for certain: I am still becoming.