FogHorn August 2, 2018  - Caroline Gossart Presentation

She told about  pursuing medical school, with the goal of being a physician to help people in need. The test was scheduled for September 2017, in a huge building, an event center. Though she did not get into medical school, she carried that medical vision with her though her time in America.

She became a freshman at the University of Namur, which her mother had attended. After seven years of high school, she was "ready to move on," and planned to study biomedical science. She discussed her initiation into her sorority, which  she said wasn't like the movie "Mean Girls" but was instead a good way to meet new people. There were expectations too, like being deferential to the older girls. She compared her sorority initiation to a baptism -- a very traditional thing for parents, and very ceremonial, with candles, singing, and sharing about oneself. She showed photos of new college friends and her dorm, where everyone got along well together.

But it was a little later on that she went through "the hardest time" in her young life. She lost some confidence in herself and her goals, and found it hard to adjust to being back in regular life where she no longer felt "special" as during her exchange year. She found her new life in college exhausting, was not sure she wanted to be there, and felt depressed and seeking a place to fit in. Her parents tried to cheer her up and encourage her to be her old self again, but "it just didn't work." Then, in January, her mother took her on a vacation trip to the Canary Islands, just the two of them and the sun and sea. She realized she'd become " oceansick" after Half Moon Bay. That week with her mom changed things for her,  for she came away feeling like she could do anything and was eager once more to hang out with her friends. Her parents were happy to see her bloom again. "They could see the change in me," she said.

Other photos showed a Rotary meeting flag exchange, a trip to London, Carnaval in Belgium, a visit with Half Moon Bay hosts Mary and Phil Rogren, other host friends Garret and Jade, and a photo of Belgian waffles to prove she couldn't bypass a waffle store. Success with her finals in June made it possible for her to come and see us. She has a new perspective: from one who has fallen and is now arising stronger, seeing how things happening not in the way you planned can make good changes for the future.

She spoke of future plans, perhaps higher education, and how taking charge of life now could help her bring about changes in the educational system. She said she ran for a high position on her college board and got the position of secretary.

She recalled her Rotaract La Louviere involvement, finding that a great way to start her journey as a Rotarian. As such her involvement in  new projects  included a trip to Yosemite and sleeping in as Shelter Box tent; learning about Shelter Box started her next project which was financing Shelter Box. She is also involved as a YEP counselor.

She spoke about the "great" three weeks she has just had here in America, seeing San Francisco and Stanford, Filoli, going bowling, and more. She looked forward to coming back, she said, "to see if it really did happen," and realized that she hadn't forgotten us. She promised to come back, and get into medical school here.