Finding My Place: Brazil, Idaho & UF

My first international experience was spending six months in Idaho as an exchange student during my junior year of high school. I came from Brazil with limited English, so adapting involved much more than attending a different school. I needed to find ways to communicate, meet people, and participate in everyday life while still learning the language.

Soccer played an important role in that process. It gave me something familiar in an unfamiliar place. On the field, I could contribute through something I already knew how to do, even when expressing myself in English was difficult. Being part of a team created opportunities to interact with people and helped me build connections beyond the classroom.

Looking back, that experience changed how I think about communication. Language matters, but connection also depends on participation, shared interests, and the willingness to keep trying. I did not need to speak perfectly before I could become involved. I could learn through the experience of being there.

When I later moved to the United States to attend UF, I brought that lesson with me. The environment was different, but I was again building a life away from Brazil. At UF, beach volleyball became an important way to make friends and develop a sense of community. Sports continued to give me a place to connect with people through a shared interest.

At the same time, I wanted to maintain my connection to Brazilian culture. Speaking Portuguese, attending BRASA events, and spending time with other Brazilian students helped me feel connected to home. Learning to participate in a new culture did not require leaving my own behind.

My language journey is part of this growth. Portuguese connects me to my identity, while English has expanded my academic, social, and professional opportunities. Moving between languages has made me more aware of how difficult it can be to express your personality and ideas in an unfamiliar setting.

These experiences have made me more patient with myself and more attentive to others who are adapting. They also remind me that belonging often begins with small steps: joining a game, starting a conversation, and being willing to show up again.