The Fulbright State of Being

Being a Fulbrighter isn’t just a title of an award you won; it’s a state of being.

Lauren enjoying agua de tamarindo in Oaxaca, Mexico.

The mindset you develop putting in a ton of work into an application, not knowing if it will work out, and then pausing life to move to another country carries you throughout life.

I got a job in San Francisco right after my Fulbright year in Brazil came to an end. Settling down in one city felt harder for me than living abroad. It pushed me past my comfort zone to grow by committing myself to one place.

Five years after my Fulbright leaving grad school, I almost accepted my first job offer because it was safe and my student loans were racking up interest by the day. But I knew it wasn’t right for me at the time. Instead, I went on a solo Southeast Asia trip for 2 months. When I returned, I got two even better job offers.

Eight years after my Fulbright, life was getting too comfortable. I went to work, came home, scheduled friend hangouts weeks in advance. I finally am paying off student debt and have a West Elm couch. I’m adulting, but life felt stale, stagnant. So I quit my job and moved to Mexico City and started my own business.

My family and friends don’t get it, but my Fulbright family gets it. Life is for exploration, discovering yourself, and connecting with people. A Fulbright is one way to do that, but even if you don’t win the award, you can still have that life. Now and forever.