Hi 2025 Ava here! I was going through my old drafts, and I found this one from June 2023. It was fully written, so I must have been too embarrassed to post it because of how late it would be. But then I remembered I have free will and social media rules like this are a social construct so it doesn’t matter. Plus, re-reading this now is so weird, because a lot of the things I mention don’t scare me any more, which has kinda inspired me to write more. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy!

“I pick dare,” a sentence I have never said in my life.

I have never described myself as daring. I don’t even dare to try something new at a restaurant once I have found a dish I like. I don’t dare to wander around new places without google maps (or with the hopes of getting lost). I don’t dare buy tickets for a show the day of. I don’t dare get attached to something(or someone) knowing I will have to leave it.

I don’t.

I didn’t.

But this year, I did.

In Mexico City, I dared to learn new things and fully experience the culture and the cuisine. After visiting the Teotihuan pyramids, we went to a local restaurant. They served cricket tacos with ant larvae on avocado, and I was really nervous to try it.

But I did, and I enjoyed it. I think if I told middle school me that I had tried that, she would laugh in my face and call me a liar, I would never do that. Not when my diet consisted of a rotation of rice, pasta, and plantains. But that’s the point. I want to do things past me would be shocked at and proud of me for. I want to dare and to have exciting stories to share.

In Mexico City, I dared to wander around the city. My friends and I had gone to visit La Angel de Indepencia, and it was beautiful. We stayed there talking, laughing, and taking pictures. Afterwards, we were hungry and wanted to eat. I wanted to find a place online, and then figure out the fastest path. But they said we will figure it out, and we should just explore. We should let the place find us, and before I could protest they started walking. So I followed along, and we saw the most beautiful storefronts and cafes. Until a place found us, a rooftop sports bar and restaurant, at which I had my favorite meal of the trip. The interior was fun with superheros and LEDs guiding you up the stairs, then vines, leaves, and fairy lights on the top floor. This place was home to some of my favorite memories the entire trip, as our conversations bloomed and we played a game from the restaurant that ended up with half of the party getting pied (including me).

Screenshot from the video of me getting pied ofc

In Mexico City, I dared to buy tickets the day of. My friends had suggested going to a Lucha Libres match. No one had tickets and no one knew the fighters, but everyone wanted to do one last thing together. So we went. Our ubers came one after the other, loads of college kids with zero tickets and zero idea of whether or not we could get in. We bought tickets in the parking lot got split up inside into smaller parties. And a party it was, I left tired from cheering during the matches with a favorite luchador(Mistico).

In Mexico City, I dared to get attached. I got attached to being able to walk around the city at night. I got attached to magnificent art from the Palacia de Bellas Artes. I got attached to being surrounded by innovation meeting amazing people from non-profits and social enterprises through school meetings. I got attached to the good music and even better food. I got attached to the beautiful landscape and way of life when visiting the Arca Tierra at Xochimilco. I got attached to the rich history when visiting the Museum of National Anthropology. And I got even more attached to friends I share these memories with.

In Mexico City, I dared and in Mexico City I grew, and I am happier for it. Thank you for everyone who pushed me to dare on this trip, and those at home( at USC and in FL) who told me I was capable all along.