Dear Mom and Dad,

This is hard. No, not the program itself. While MSBA itself is hectic, overwhelming, and even draining at times, it’s the best possible version of intense that I can imagine. I literally feel myself inching closer and closer to success with each passing day, creating lasting relationships along the way. What’s hard is not being able to share every moment with you. What’s hard is not being able to introduce you to the people who are impacting my future, or bring you along to experience what a typical day in the life of your youngest daughter is like these days – all of which is possible because of you.

“I know you were a bit skeptical at first, but trust me when I say that your decision to let me fly halfway across the country for a summer in NYC, after spending five months abroad, was totally, utterly, 110% worth it. And I will spend the rest of my life proving that to you.”

Anyone who knows me for longer than five minutes knows that you two are my best friends, my rocks, and my biggest supporters … and in case you were wondering, I’m not afraid to admit it. I’m 21 years old, and my first instinct when something exciting happens is still to pick up the phone and call home. I think that is blatantly obvious given the phone calls I would religiously make to you at 9pm sharp every night when I was back at school. Even when my days consisted of nothing but classes, work, and Netflix, I still felt the need to fill you in on every detail.

Well for the past month my days have consisted of nothing but nonstop excitement, yet I have only talked to you a handful of times. Why? Because even on rare days like today, when there is no scheduled programming and we have the night off, the hustle and bustle doesn’t stop. I’m only here, in this situation, in this city, and with these resources, for slightly over two months. You better believe I am going to take advantage of every last second. Rather than laying in bed watching movies and relaxing on our rainy night off (as tempting as that sounds), I am spending the evening with one of my Mentors (Courtney Sergeant of Engine Shop Agency) instead, cultivating and expanding these ever-so-important relationships. I can sleep when I’m dead, but until then I’m going to do whatever it takes to make my dreams come true. You both have put me in the position to do so, and have done everything in your power to allow me to take advantage of every opportunity I am presented with. The least I could do is make all of your hard work and dedication worth it.

So, while I want to keep you updated with all that I am doing, seeing, and accomplishing during my summer with MSBA, it is quite literally impossible. There is no way for me to even put this experience into words, and walking you through a day in the life with just a 20 minute conversation over the phone, at midnight, after a long day, just doesn’t do it justice. So, unless you’d like me to call every 10 minutes with a complete play-by-play, all you need to know is that it is worth it. The decision to apply for MSBA, while totally impulsive and out of the blue, was the best possible decision I could have made. I know you were a bit skeptical at first, but trust me when I say that your decision to let me fly halfway across the country for a summer in NYC, after spending five months abroad, was totally, utterly, 110% worth it. And I will spend the rest of my life proving that to you.

Love always,

Mo