Help... First I need to get there!

Thanks for visiting my blog! I’m Alex Wessel, currently a junior at Roosevelt High School in Seattle, WA. 

I moved back to Seattle in 2015 from San Miguel de Allende, Mexico 2 years ago. I was looking forward to a world I knew, including the easy comfort of the American education system, especially after having an unsettling plethora of experiences way outside of my comfort zone for two years in another country and another language.

At the end of our time in Mexico 2015

I never fully understood until more recently, that my parents moved us to Mexico because they were committed to my sister and me being engaged in a greater international community, beyond the comfortable social bubble I knew. I thought they were just crazy. I'm just now beginning to understand the full value of an international experience. 

The last couple of years back in Seattle, I immersed myself in a lot of sports ---soccer, tennis, rowing, skiing. I ski instructed, tutored and took on neighborhood work. Socially I’ve been involved in youth group, clubs, and have had a couple of girlfriends. Academically, my classes were fine, but not particularly challenging. One theme has been consistent – not much has really stuck, my choice of activities are always changing. My youth group has been the one rock solid core that kept me going.

Youth group trip to Tijuana to build a house Spring 2017

Freshman year I spent adjusting to high school, bouncing around from person to person even just trying to find a crew to eat lunch with. I changed soccer teams twice that year, split in the middle with playing tennis.

Sophomore year was much the same. I changed premier club soccer teams, then started rowing in the early spring season to gain strength and discipline, ski instructed and started tutoring. Clubs at school didn't resonate with me. I felt like all this bouncing around was beginning to equate to a lack of direction and time poorly spent. I didn't have goals that suited what I needed at the time.

I'm in the white hat

This school year has proven different, significantly tougher, from my previous two. Since summer, my life plunged in an unfulfilling and unexpected direction. Being a junior and senior at Roosevelt is centered around the leadership positions, the varsity sports teams, and the parties. I’ve found myself in a spot where I’m not satisfied with the ongoing pressures to conform.

The only thing that kept me going was my close-knit youth group. But at the start of the school year and out of my control, that changed too. I was totally crushed and my life turned crappy quickly. The story is long and complicated, but at the heart of it is a breach of trust stemming from someone really important to me. It’s hurt my relationships with friends, youth group leaders, and my parents too. I’ve been running into a brick wall, doing it again and again, to a point where it’s becomes routine.

Ironically after bouncing around so much, I’ve come to the conclusion that indeed change is what’s needed once again. But this time, it’s aimed at the target of happiness beyond my high school years. A couple of weeks ago one very late night my mom sat me down to talk about studying abroad. My instinctual response was yes! My quick decision surprised my mom and me too. So we’ve been scrambling to make this happen.

As a result, I'm heading to France with AFS. I feel like studying abroad will provide both the challenge and the time to draw a bigger picture for my life in a new setting. I expect the benefits of learning more French (I've been studying it for 3 years), adjusting to the culture, making new relationships and spending time getting to know myself better will result in something positive.

As part of my France experience, I plan to blog regular ponderings --- any thoughts that have crossed my mind to share with readers. I’d also like to provide a visual with a video every month. As an avid videographer and drone pilot, I think a video would give better insight to friends and family on the vibe and my new life in France. 

I’m looking forward to this, but I’m really anxious too. I’m scared to leave my family, my friends and the stuff I like about my life here. In France, I’ll be living with a host family but may not know who they are or where in France I’ll be until shortly before leaving middle of January. This is all happening very fast.

I’ve promised my parents I’ll raise ½ the fee especially since this has all come up so last minute. It’s not cheap. I’d really appreciate your support. Any amount helps me know you’re in this journey with me. I'll keep you updated and thank you!

• Alex

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