A Letter to Future Margeaux

 Dear Future Margeaux,

When you read this you will most likely be finishing up your eight-month journey around the world. I thought I would write you a letter because I have a feeling that you are quite the changed version of me. One thing that I have learned from our previous trips to Ghana and Haiti and other hard places is that there is no way you can return unchanged. Even just a month of time in Ghana changed my life completely, so I can only imagine what you have experienced.

I wrote this letter once before to tell you about how I was feeling about the trip so far. I realized however, that the feelings I felt when I wrote that a month ago are a lot different than the ones I am feeling now that it is getting real. I am now here to tell you all of the feels I am feeling a week before the trip:

• I am sad to leave my family, my friends, and my new hometown but I am thankful to have so many good things and people to miss.
• I feel some fear of the unknown because this is the first time I am embarking on a journey where I will arrive knowing no one at all.
• I am not scared of any of the places I am going but rather I am scared of leaving the place I love for such a long time because I know lots will change while I am gone and I will return to a different version of normal.
• I feel called. I feel that this is more than just research for Wofford but instead the beginning of the life God has called me to.
• I am SO excited. I am excited to meet new people, learn knew things, and grow like crazy.
• I am shocked that this is actually happening. This is a dream coming true. The suitcase is out. This is real. 

When I initially wrote this letter I said that I felt no fear at all but that is not entirely true because I am a human. There is huge opportunity for fear of the unknown during this trip. These will be new airports, new smells, a new language, different cultures, and so much more. I have no clue who I will be working with or where I will be working for that matter. Is all of that unknown scary? Yes, of course. However, I am thankful for a mama who taught me to live by a saying- "Leap and the net will appear." The doors have swung open for this trip. I am meant to go and despite some fear and sadness, I feel a lot of peace. I know there will be hard days, but for some reason that still excites me. I am getting to go do something that most people would never have the opportunity to do. These are the stories I will tell my kids and grandkids one day. 

This is going to make me a better doctor, friend, daughter, sister, and ultimately a better version of Margeaux.  I guess that's you! You are this new version and I can't wait to hear how you have learned and grown. I can't wait to see all that you write down, the friends you make, the stories you cherish, and the yummy recipes that you bring home. 

Mama taught us to leap and the net will appear and she has always been right. So future Margeaux, here's to leaping. I'll meet you soon. 

Love,

Margeaux of May 2025