In this episode, we sit down with Vanessa, our well-travelled guest from Tanzania who recently graduated from Mount Holyoke College. Vanessa opens up about her journey as an African international student in the U.S., reflecting on the culture shocks, unexpected lessons, and moments of growth that came with navigating college, and now post-grad life, far from home. From building community in unfamiliar spaces to finding her voice in academic and social settings, she shares the highs and lows that shaped her experience.

We also dive into her love for travel, including the transformative semester she spent abroad and the many adventures that have broadened her perspective on identity, belonging, and curiosity. And of course, we talk about her life as a swimmer—how being in the water grounds her and how teaching others to swim has become one of ...