A Shift in Perspective: Seeing the World Through New Eyes

When you stay in one place for a long period of time, you can start to feel bored, and everything

around you starts to become a routine. Especially when you're a college student in a small private

university, you follow a routine and create a habit for yourself. You surround yourself with the

same group of people, and you do similar things every day.

When Mr. Bill Imada announced at Basecamp that the next trip would take place in San

Francisco, I eagerly seized the opportunity to participate. I thought it would be a great

networking experience, and I didn’t expect much further from it being a few days of networking.

I was wrong. Throughout the trip, everyone around me continuously proved to me how wrong I

was.

From watching people react with surprise at San Francisco’s steep hills to learning more about

the culture both in the workplace and in the community. I soon realized this trip was going to be

much more than just networking. Watching my peers react to things that I’ve normalized since I

lived here made me appreciate how different environments shape our perspectives. Something as

simple as walking up a hill—something locals do every day without a second thought—became a

moment of discovery. These small moments reminded me that what is routine to one person can

be entirely new to another.

Beyond the physical environment, I was equally fascinated by the different perspectives of

culture—both in the workplace and in the community. Every conversation I had, whether it was

with a local professional, a business leader, or even my peers, opened my eyes to new ways of

thinking. I gained fresh perspectives on career paths, personal growth, and the different ways

people approach challenges. The more I listened, the more I realized how much I had been

missing by staying within my bubble and looking at things from my lens and perspective.

I truly appreciate what this trip has given me. I will forever cherish the friendship that was made

on this trip and all the conversations that I had. This trip has helped me grow one step further not

only in my career but mentally and critically as well. And by immersing myself in this

experience also taught me the importance of stepping outside my comfort zone—not just

geographically, but mentally. It showed me that growth comes from embracing new experiences,

immersing myself in unfamiliar environments, and most importantly, seeing the world through

other people’s eyes.