ISTA Beijing: A Reminder of the Importance of Embracing Experiences in Our Lives

There are so many different experiences that shape the way we act, our values, and our entire lives, whether we know it or not. Big or small, these moments have a lasting impact on us and define the way we perceive our world and what goes on in our lives today. 

Recently, I went on a school trip for a drama program to Beijing, and I’m going to talk about how it was as well as how it made a difference in my life. Back in 2024, I had auditioned for this trip, and when I got in I was incredibly excited. It was a drama festival hosted in Beijing and included a day trip to the Great Wall. 

However, it was for a period of four nights and five days, longer than I had ever been away from my family. As the trip got closer and closer, I got more and more nervous about going. Soon enough, it was time to leave for the trip and I felt scared, and also excited. 

The festival was amazing overall! We were in workshops all day, learning new techniques on how to strengthen our acting and creating pieces of our show to perform at the showcase. In addition to that, we also went sightseeing for a short time, getting to see the Hutongs (traditional villages in China known for the specific architecture called “hutongs”), visiting Tiananmen Square, and taking a day trip to the Great Wall of China! It was amazing, getting to see the incredible views from high above and hiking. It was insanely crowded, but still fantastic nonetheless. 

After coming back home, I realised it was more than just what we saw and did. It was embracing a new experience, one nothing like anything I had ever done before. I stepped out of my comfort zone in every way, from being away from home for the first time that long to performing with students from all over the world and navigating a new country. 

I learned how capable I am of actually adapting, connecting with new people, and handling situations I once would’ve felt too scared to face. It reminded me that sometimes the most unexpected experiences can leave the deepest impact, shaping us in so many powerful ways. 

I have a beautiful quote that says “New experiences are the quiet architects of who we become. They may not always arrive with fanfare, but they challenge the edges of our comfort, teach us who we are when no one’s watching, and leave behind pieces of courage and clarity we carry long after. It’s in the unfamiliar, the unexpected, that we often discover the truest parts of ourselves.” I absolutely love this quote because I feel it completely represents the importance of new experiences in our lives. I hope all of you truly get to experience such moments, and allow for these moments to shape who you are today and who you become in the future.